The focus of the rain will shift north tomorrow, from the western regions of the South Island to much of the North Island.

Rain has already been falling in Northland this afternoon.  More rain is expected to make its way on to the rest of the western North Island as we go through the night.  By tomorrow morning, most of the North Island will be seeing rain chances.  The best chances will be from Northland, through Auckland and then south to Taranaki.  Pockets of heavy rain are possible.

The axis of the better rain chances will shift east during the morning.  By noon, rain will be likely for the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Taranaki.   Pockets of heavy rain are again possible, especially for the Waikato, Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty.

During the evening, rain will ease back a bit for most of the island except eastern Bay of Plenty and East Cape/Gisborne.

Winds will also be an issue tomorrow.  Expect gusty northerlies to continue prior to the front passing through.  Winds will then swing around to the west after frontal passage.

For the South Island, rain will continue about the upper tip during the early morning with just a few chances for showers about the rest of the island.

As Monday wears on, a few showers will be likely about most of the island.  No heavy rain is expected though.

Homepage image/ Rachel Kuljish

By WeatherWatch.co.nz Analyst Howard Joseph