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• An ‘atmospheric river’ has started crashing over the top of the South Island with forecasters warning it will creep up the country this evening. 
• MetService says residents should prepare for flooding and slips. 
• Heavy rain watches have also been issued for Auckland and Northland for this evening. 

A month’s worth of rain is bearing down as the largest weather system of the year - a widespread “atmospheric river” - washes over the country. 

MetService says the worst of the rain is yet to come with Auckland commuters warned the heaviest deluges will hit during rush hour tomorrow morning. 

Civil Defence says although the rain is welcome news for those struggling with drought, rivers are expected to rise rapidly with slips and surface flooding possible. 

Weather watches for Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and other central regions have been upgraded to orange heavy rain warnings with 400mm of rain expected to fall in the coming 30 hours. 

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MetService meteorologist Surprise Mhlongo said the rain had begun to soak the upper South Island overnight with 80mm of rain already washing over the Tasman region. The Tasman District Council was warning residents that slips and flooding could impact vital roads.

“Isolated heavy bursts are possible and could result in more significant flooding in small creeks and surface flooding. Expect some slipping to occur in prone areas.

“Rainfall is forecast to be highest toward the end of the event when catchments are soaked.”

Mhlongo said the rain would creep down from the Far North - where it has already fallen overnight - later this evening before the skies opened up over Auckland at around 10pm. A heavy rain watch has been issued.

He said the showers over Northland would remain steady throughout the day, becoming heavier at around midday. A heavy rain watch has been issued for the area from 12pm today until noon tomorrow.

MetService has extended the heavy rain watches over the Bay of Plenty from early tomorrow morning.

Watches have also been placed over Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui and the Tongariro National Park as the atmospheric river makes its way down the country tonight. The watches are also expected to begin early tomorrow morning and last for about 24 hours.

Heavy rain warnings are in place for Marlborough, the Buller District and the ranges of the Westland District, where up to 300m of rain is expected to fall over about 30 hours.

MetService was warning residents in these areas to ensure gutters are clear and to avoid low-lying areas due to flood risks.

Additional heavy rain watches are in place for Grey District and Westland District north of Harihari.