Weather warning: Severe thunderstorms, rain and wind to hit Northland
The bad weather is forecast to hit around 6pm and last until 9am on Friday.
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
A moisture-packed system is set to saturate much of NZ, with warnings likely to be issued.
It is expected to be drier than normal for the first half of April.
Multiple areas in the central North Island may see frost this morning.
Metservice has predicted a slightly wet start to the long weekend.
MetService advises holidaymakers and locals to keep an eye on weather alerts this weekend.
MetService National Weather: March 27th - April 1st. Video / Metservice
The upcoming long weekend forecast is still hard to pin down.
It will also be chilly overnight on Wednesday and Thursday.
The sun has shone for St Patrick's Day festivities, but cool nights lie ahead.
MetService is calling this the 'coldest weekend of the year so far'.
Daytime temperatures could drop by 10 degrees by the weekend.
MetService National Weather: March 12th - 16th. Video / Metservice
March is about to feel more like May, as a polar surge brings chilly weekend temperatures.
Much of the North Island lies under a severe electrical storm watch until 6pm.
MetService Severe Weather: Monday March 4th Video / MetService
Metservice said anything above 6mm of rain an hour was considered heavy rain.
A smattering of severe weather watches have been issued with more possible.
MetService National Weather: March 2nd - 5th Video / MetService
Conditions will turn in the south on Saturday, ushering in days of wet and wild weather.
MetService says the storm could hit the South Island on Sunday evening, move up on Monday.
Taylor's 'Midnight Rain' has crossed the Tasman, but Hawke's Bay may be lucky.
Meteorologist's gloomy forecast spells doom for cricket fans today.
MetService Severe Weather: 19th - 21st February. Video / Metservice
Wind gusts of up to 130km/h will strike parts of the country today.
Temperatures will be "above average" for the North Island to start the week.
MetService National Weather: February 12th-14th.