Severe weather is on the way for many places in New Zealand ahead of the long Easter weekend.
WeatherWatch is predicting a gusty northeasterly airflow over the country tomorrow, bringing heavy rain.
"For the North Island, it's looking fairly cloudy in the west, along with the odd shower about the upper North Island, too," the WeatherWatch online site said. "Rain in Northland becomes heavy in the late afternoon or evening.
"Rain becomes heavy about Taranaki overnight too, while the East Coast has some morning sun, then thickening high cloud by around midday."
The South Island would experience some rain on Wednesday with the odd heavy fall from the afternoon.
"Southland and Otago see rain spreading down from the northwest from afternoon and into the evening, after a dry start in the morning and some high cloud.
"Canterbury sees high cloud thickening from morning, while some rain spreads from the west for a time in the late afternoon or evening."
A complex trough, preceded by very strong and moist northeasterlies, is expected to move east across the country on Thursday, according to MetService.
The trough would bring rain and northeast gales to much of central and northern New Zealand on Thursday, MetService meteorologist Ciaran Doolin said.
The heaviest rain is likely to be in the north of both islands, and a heavy rain warning is now in force.
A severe northeast gale warning in in place for Northland from Wednesday to Thursday morning. Severe northeast gales are also likely in Auckland, and from Waikato to Taranaki.
Heavy downpours are likely from Northland to Taranaki, according to MetService.
Other parts of the North Island may also experience severe northeast gales, while heavy rain is also possible at the top of the South Island.
"It will all start tomorrow with rain in many areas but we're expecting the large amounts of rain to come on Thursday," Mr Doolin said.
"There'll still be showers around on Friday but the substantial rain should clear on Thursday night."
A ridge of high pressure would move across the country over the weekend, he said.
"That should bring a clear weekend for most of the country. A period of rain is possible again on Easter Monday but the weekend should be fine."
Main centres outlook
Dunedin: Wednesday: Cloudy with a few spots rain possible in the afternoon. Northeast strengthens. High 20C. Thursday: Rain easing to showers. Fine in the evening. Southerly change. High 20C.
Auckland: Wednesday: Few showers, then late rain, some possibly heavy. Strong north easterly. High 25C. Thursday: Heavy rain and strong northeasterly changing to southwesterlies with showers. High 24C.
Tauranga: Wednesday: Occasional showers with late rain and strong northeasterlies. High 23C. Thursday: Heavy rain and gale northeast, clearing at night. High 23C.
Hamilton: Wednesday: Cloudy periods with a few showers, late rain and strong northeasterlies. High 25C. Thursday: Heavy rain and strong northeasterlies changing to southwesterlies with showers. High 24C.
Wellington: Wednesday: Fine with increasing high cloud and strengthening northerlies. High 26C. Thursday: Some rain with strong northerlies and late southerlies. High 21C.
Christchurch: Wednesday: Cloudy with rain developing in the afternoon and strengthening northeasterlies. High 23C. Thursday: Rain then showers. Strong northerlies turn southwest. High 27C.
-- Source: MetService
