Residents in the upper North island are being warned to take safety precautions ahead of a big storm.
The MetService has issued a weather warning for the Northland and Auckland Regions. It's predicting gale force winds and torrential rain on Saturday.
Whangarei Emergency Management Officer Antoinette Mitchell says there may also be a storm surge over the next few days.
She says boaties should secure their craft and residents should bring insider or secure anything on their properties that could get blown around.
Forecasters say a rapidly intensifying storm is expected in Northland by the middle of Saturday. The low will then move off southeast to lie off East Cape by midday Sunday, after which it should move away from the North Island.
Weather analyst Richard Green says it is one of the largest and deepest lows seen for years, and has the potential to cause real damage.
The worst affected areas will be Northland, Auckland, Coromandel and Hawke's Bay.
The low will be accompanied by gales affecting a large part part of the North Island, and a band of rain with heavy falls in the east from Northland to Hawke's Bay. Winds gusts of between 100 and 120 kilometres per hour are predicted with gusts up to 200. Heavy rain and surface flooding is also expected.
Rain and gales are likely to miss the Wairarapa, but a watch will be maintained.
More than 20 flights were delayed by gale force winds at Wellington Airport on Thursday, while a southerly brought snow to parts of Canterbury and Otago.
Chains were essential on some inland South Island roads while flooding in Christchurch shut off waterside walkways.
MetService expects single digit temperatures to continue this weekend.
For the latest weather forecast for your region, go to
the
onenews.co.nz/weather
page.
