Severe weather is expected for some parts of the country this evening, with possibilities of surface flooding.
A strong northeasterly flow is reaching Auckland, Waikato, Coromandel, Wanganui and northern Manawatu overnight tonight.
A MetService warning for severe gales was in place, with gusts of up to 120kmh expected in exposed areas, MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said.
"This is quite a significant event," she said.
Gusts in Cape Reinga had already reached 102kmh, and were expected to intensify later this evening.
The heavy weather would move down the country, reaching areas at different times this evening.
Severe gusts in Auckland would peak later today but would ease on Thursday.
Occasional showers would turn to rain this evening and would become heavy overnight, Ms Murray said.
There was also a thunderstorm watch in place for Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island and Taranaki.
Rain of 150mm combined, across the Northland region was expected over an 18-hour period, Ms Murray said.
Coromandel Peninsula could have 80 to 100mm over the same time period.
Ms Murray said rainfall of this intensity could cause surface flooding and advised motorists to take care when driving.
"Previously in conditions like these, power lines have gone down, tree branches have fallen, and unsecured trampolines can take off," she said.
The severe weather would subside by tomorrow and there would be settled weather for the long weekend, Ms Murray said.
"There's an improving trend for the Easter weekend with more settled weather and cooler air," she said.
WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said severe weather would be in "pockets" or "hit and miss", which meant it won't reach all areas of the country.
"We see areas of unstable weather where pockets of sub-tropical energy will bubble up and create torrential rain and maybe damaging winds -- but around that it may just be a bit windy and drizzly.
"Winds are currently blustery in Auckland, eastern Waikato, western Coromandel Peninsula and parts of Northland. Winds may increase further overnight, and among some of the biggest cloud build ups -- or downpours -- there may be stronger wind gusts over 100km/h on Thursday morning," he said.
Mr Duncan said while the bulk of the rain would be "light and drizzly" some would be "quite explosive sub-tropical downpours".
It could be heavy enough to cause localised flooding, he said.
"The front may be very dramatic out at sea, then weaken as it moves in, then across Thursday may again grow in energy over parts of the North Island, before clearing away overnight tomorrow night."
