After more than a month of calm, eastern areas of Northland are being warned to batten down the hatches over an incoming front.
Eastern Northland south of Karikari Peninsula has been placed under a heavy rain watch from 6am until 4pm on Wednesday.
MetService says rainfall amounts could reach warning criteria. Thunderstorms and localised downpours are possible.
Meteorologist Silvia Martino said a low was developing to the west and was slowly approaching Northland.
It was expected to pass through relatively fast but could bring areas of heavy rain to eastern areas of Northland, she said.
Waves in open water on the eastern coast could reach around 3m because of the combination of wind and swell.
Martino said warnings would depend on what the radar showed.
She encouraged people to keep an eye on updates as they came to hand in case warnings were issued.
Brodie Stone covers crime and emergency for the Northern Advocate. She has spent most of her life in Whangārei and is passionate about delving into issues that matter to Northlanders and beyond.