MetService is warning of heavy rain and thunderstorms for the top of the North Island which could cause some flooding.

Heavy rain warnings have been issued for a number of areas including Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty.

"Up to 180mm of rain is forecast in Bay of Plenty during the 21 hours from 3am tomorrow [Monday]," says a MetService spokesperson.

"There is a risk of severe thunderstorms with localised downpours - rainfall rates of 25 - 40 mm per hour - for Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato during the early hours of Monday morning."

Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips. Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.

Coromandel Peninsula is expected to get up to 110mm of rain from 9am Monday until 3am on Tuesday, while Gisborne is forecast to get up to 140mm of rain during the 18 hours from 9am Monday.

Meteorologist Ashlee Parkes says the subtropical low pressure system sitting over the Tasman Sea will drag wet and windy weather across the country, starting with Northland from Sunday afternoon.

"We will see widespread heavy rain through those warning regions as well as the potential for isolated thunderstorms and downpours that will potentially add rainfall intensities into localised areas that could cause things like surface flooding etcetera."

The heavy rainfall may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly and surface flooding and slips may make driving conditions hazardous, MetService warns.

In addition, MetService says there are several watches and warnings in place for heavy tain and strong wind across the northern half of the North Island.

Ashlee says the system will also bring some warmer weather, with much of the North Island getting double digit overnight temperatures this week.

Gisborne on alert

The Gisborne region could be in for a rough start to the week, with a heavy rain warning in force from Ruatoria northwards.

An orange alert has been issued from 9am Monday until 3am on Tuesday morning.

Between 90 and 140 millimetres of rain could fall at a peak rate of 20 to 30 millimetres an hour from Monday afternoon.

The district council says it may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly.

Driving conditions could be hazardous with surface flooding and slips possible.

Nearly seven weeks ago, flooding in the Gisborne region closed State Highway 35 along the coast.

In March, a state of emergency was in force in the Tairāwhiti region after torrential rain.