Pohutukawa at Urquharts Bay with setting moon Photo:
Wet and cold weather for much of the country on Monday following the heavy humidity.
Metservice meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told Morning Report it had been a humid few days in the north of the North Island.
Parts of Northland and Auckland hadn't dropped below 20degC even overnight, she said.
There were heavy rain watches in place for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty with possible thunderstorms forecast Monday.
There was also significant rain in the west of the South Island, with the Grey District under heavy rain watch.
Flooding closed State Highway 6 between Barrytown and Punakaiki on the South Island's West Coast.
Waka Kotahi was advising all drivers to avoid the area, or delay their journey if possible.
Makgabutlane said that weather system would be heading towards Buller during the day.
"Over the West Coast there were lots of thunderstorms overnight, I see Hokitika had quite a lot of rain over the last 12 hours, over 80mm of rain."
Meanwhile on the eastern side of the South Island, another weather system was bringing cold temperatures and perhaps some rain.
"Out towards Canterbury, Otago, we're expecting quite a dip in temperatures this afternoon."
That weather system would move up to Wellington later in the day.
"It could be quite a gusty one for us later this evening," she said.
Wellington temperatures to plummet
After a warm weekend temperatures in the capital are set to plummet tomorrow.
A southerly change coming early evening could bring thunderstorms, hail and wind gusts reaching up to 100 kilometres an hour in Wellington and Wairarapa --- as well as the Marlborough Sounds and the Kaikōuracoast.
Wellington would likely get showers from the late afternoon, and tomorrow could reach a high of just 13 degrees after a balmy weekend where temperatures got up to 23 degrees.
MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said the rain would clear out by Tuesday but the winds will still be pretty strong.
"It is pretty early in summer so we still get the very changeable spring weather going through."
The Transport Agency is also warning Wellington drivers that downpours forecast for this afternoon could affect the motorway into the city.
A southerly change later today could bring thunderstorms and possibly hail, as well a heavy rain.
The agency said drivers on State Highway 2 between Petone and Ngauranga should take care from 5pm this afternoon through to 3am tomorrow morning.
It is also warning people driving motorcycles, vans and trucks, or towing trailers, to watch out for strong winds.
Particularly on State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill and Wainui Saddle on State Highway 1 on Transmission Gully.
Christmas forecast
Makgabutlane said it was still a bit early to get a reliable forecast for Christmas Day next week.
"As the time comes closer we will get a much clearer picture for specific parts of the country."
But forecasting was suggesting at least some places would have settled weather for the big day, she said.
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