Firefighters have dealt with 67 weather-related jobs overnight in the north of the country as a raft of severe weather advisories have been issued for the North Island.

Torrential downpours hit parts of Auckland and Coromandel overnight, bringing “damaging” amounts of rain to some spots, according to MetService.

MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon says the highest hourly rainfall was in Leigh, just north of Warkworth, where 81mm fell between 9-10pm, while Whangaparāoa received 63mm in an hour.

More than 40mm in an hour is considered torrential rain, so 81mm was a “ridiculous...really damaging amount”, she says.

North and East Auckland had borne the brunt of the downpours but Auckland Airport and Manukau weather stations had also received around 30mm in an hour, with 7mm considered heavy rain.

Flooding has also been reported in the Coromandel. More than 40mm fell in an hour over the Coromandel Range and thunderstorms remained over the Kaimai Ranges just before 6am, Ngaire says.

Northern firefighters responded to 67 weather-related call outs between 11pm and 2am, Fire and Emergency shift manager Josh Pennefather says.

Central East Auckland suburbs were most affected, with other callouts in South Auckland. Most of the jobs were related to flooding and leaking buildings, but no one was evacuated.

There were also 28 alarm activations in commercial buildings due to water ingress.

Parts of the country are bracing for a wet and wild couple of days - with heavy rain and thunderstorms set to arrive today, ahead of the official beginning of winter next week.

The northern and eastern North Island have awakened to heavy rain watches and one warning as a “complex” low-pressure system approaches New Zealand with an extended band of rain.

Thunderstorms continue to move into the Bay of Plenty this morning and heavy rain is set to wrap onto the east coast of the North Island

Milford Sound and Hokitika look to be the places to be if you are looking for some sunnier skies. pic.twitter.com/LDGCyAR1Hj

— MetService (@MetService) May 20, 2024

There is a severe thunderstorm watch for the Bay of Plenty, particularly over the Kaimai area.

Hawke’s Bay is squarely in the firing line, with an orange heavy rain warning from 6am today until 6pm Wednesday as the low pressure system stalls, directing moisture into eastern areas.

The region can expect 150 to 200mm of rain, according to the latest MetService update, with the most rain south of SH5. Peak rates could reach 20 to 30mm per hour this morning and afternoon.

The warning could be extended as further rain is expected to lash the region through till Friday.

“Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous,” the forecaster says.

Ngaire says around 6am this morning the heaviest rain was west of Rotorua but falls were widespread over the North Island from southern Waikato down.

Showers were still falling in Northland and could be expected in Auckland later on, Ngaire says.

“Just because the severe weather is over there doesn’t mean it’s going to be a nice day.”

The outlook for the start of the wet working week

Weather Watches and Warnings have been issued - stay tuned as these get updated within the coming days

Rain for Te Ika-a-Māui/North Island is the story of the week
Te Waipounamu/South Island is a split
West of… pic.twitter.com/6c5fvqKlOB

— MetService (@MetService) May 20, 2024

MetService meteorologist Dom Barry earlier says the “Tasman Sea Special” would see rain continue for most of the working week in the North Island.

A heavy rain watch for Auckland and Great Barrier Island was set to lapse at 6am today and further watches for Coromandel and Bay of Plenty would end at 9am and midday respectively.

Rain watches for Gisborne, Wairarapa and Tararua District will remain in place throughout the day and into Wednesday morning.

Federated Farmers has welcomed the expected rain for Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, where soils are dry going into winter.

Low pressure zones around NZ this week may create heavy rain for the eastern NI.

In this wider view these areas of heavy rain aren't widespread, but the easterly flow pushing into the eastern NI ranges may increase totals in #HawkesBay & #Gisborne.

This may still change: pic.twitter.com/ezqyacX6nW

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) May 19, 2024

But MetService says there are concerns about flash flooding if too much rain falls on dry, hard ground.

Dom says surface flooding across Hawke’s Bay was highly probable.

“With these heavy downpours, we can expect to see some surface flooding. We need to make sure we get our people out there driving and staying safe when they are out and about.”

MetService says the low-pressure system and associated cool temperatures in the upper atmosphere, were expected to lead to unstable conditions in several North Island areas today.

Low pressure will mean rain for much of the North Island through at least Tuesday.

For some, the rain will be quite heavy, especially over the eastern half of the island.

While the rain is much needed, too much rain over a short time may result in localised flooding. pic.twitter.com/A6Yd8ZEl2G

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) May 19, 2024

For southern Coromandel Peninsula, the Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne, there is a moderate risk of thunderstorms during the morning. A moderate risk of thunderstorms also develops about Northland after midday.

Strong easterly to southeasterly winds are also expected in the central North Island today, with a possibility of severe gales about the ranges from the Raukumara to Ruahine ranges and further west.

However, most other parts of New Zealand would have a drier-than-usual week for the time of year.

“As the low moves southeastwards across the motu, we can expect areas such as Marlborough and Northern Canterbury to encounter some wet weather from Tuesday, with the rain mainly remaining in the eastern North Island.

“Meanwhile, in [the] South Island, west of the main divide is becoming fine on Tuesday and is the place to be - now’s the time to soak up some sunshine,” Dom says.

-NZ Herald