It's the first day of autumn and boy do we know it: The South Island woke to a chill in the air while parts of the North Island are in for more heavy rain.
According to MetService's forecast, humid weather will again turn to rain in the Coromandel Peninsula, Auckland and Northland - with a low risk of thunderstorms ranging from 25 to 40mm/h later today.
Auckland, along with the Coromandel Peninsula and Northland, is in for more rain. Photo: 123RF
However, the forecaster has lifted its severe weather warning for Northland as the mass of subtropical air that brought heavy rain yesterday moved to the east.
The New Zealand Transport Agency said roads were still very wet in Auckland, and advised motorists to watch out for surface flooding.
A gale warning was in force for the coast off Colville in Northland, with very rough seas expected towards the end of the day.
The weather across the rest of New Zealand was expected to be relatively fine, with some cloud and wind.
A chill on the South Island this morning. 3°C in #Queenstown, 9° Dunedin & Invercargill https://t.co/oKYtro2Yts ^CL pic.twitter.com/PhZyHMI61Q
— MetService (@MetService) February 29, 2016
Current #humidity levels: Kaitaia 96%, Auckland 91%, Hamilton 97%, Tauranga 92%, Rotorua 94% Hope you're staying cool out there! ^NB
— MetService (@MetService) February 29, 2016
Still very wet in Auckland this morning, please take extra care, drive to the conditions, & look out for surface flooding. ^LC
— NZTA Akld & Nthlnd (@NZTAAkl) February 29, 2016
Several centres in the South Island were hit by an early morning chill, with temperatures at 3°C in Queenstown and 9°C in Dunedin and Invercargill. By mid-morning, the highest temperature across the country was 21°C, in Whangarei, with a low of 7°C, in Alexandra.
Further downpours were expected in the upper North Island on Wednesday, with a chance of heavy rain in Fiordland and Westland at the start of the weekend.
A graphic shows MetService's rain radar shortly before 9.30am. Photo: MetService
