MetService's rain radar on Monday morning. Photo: Supplied / MetService
Rain-weary Northlanders could be in for another soaking with MetService issuing a new heavy rain watch as yet another subtropical low approaches the region.
The watch applied to all areas north of Whangārei from 10am on Tuesday morning until midnight, with thunderstorms and localised downpours possible.
There was a high chance it would be upgraded to a weather warning.
There had been heavy rain and severe thunderstorms in Northland and Auckland over the long weekend. In particular, the Far North town of Kerikeri had received significantly more than half of their monthly rainfall in a 12-hour period on Sunday.
SEVERE WEATHER UPDATE
— MetService (@MetService) April 27, 2025
Heavy rain watches have been issued for Northland north of Whangārei and Christchurch and Canterbury Plains north of Timaru
Northland has a HIGH chance of upgrading to a warning
Canterbury has a MODERATE chance of being upgraded to a… pic.twitter.com/jxZPMxxeE4
Kerikeri breaks rain record
This month's rainfall in Kerikeri has already smashed records, and another weather system was expected before April is over.
MetService meteorologist John Law said the Far North town was the wettest place in Northland on Sunday getting 92mm of rain in 24 hours.
That pushed the town's total for the month so far to 493mm, well above the April average of 151mm.
It was already Kerikeri's wettest April since records began in 1978, Law said. The previous record, which was about 60mm lower, was set in 1999.
It had rained in Kerikeri every day this month, with the sole exception of 9 April.
Law told Morning Report there was still a risk of thunderstorms in the upper North Island on Monday.
As for the South Island, Law said it was a great place to be over the long weekend, with a good start to this week, too.
Monday's emojicast:
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) April 27, 2025
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However, Law said it was worth keeping an eye on the forecast around Wednesday as there could be a cooler end to the week.
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