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•  are forecast to sweep across the top of the North Island today.
• predicts the areas most likely in the firing line are  and  Peninsula.
•  say a new front could bring another spell of heavy rain.

Auckland faces the threat of heavy rain and thunderstorms today as students return to school.

MetService forecaster Alec Holden told the Herald “a lot of rain and showers” were forecast across the top of the North Island today.

“The areas of most concern for us are Auckland and the Coromandel.”

A heavy rain watch is in place for Auckland and Great Barrier Island until 9am.

“Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms possible. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria and possibly exceed them in localised areas, especially in thunderstorms and downpours.”

According to the MetService website, there is a moderate chance the watch will upgrade to a warning.

Holden said a low-pressure system is directing moist, unstable north easterlies over the top part of the North Island.

“Those northeasterlies are bringing with them rain and showers,” he said.

“Unstable, in this case, means those showers are more likely to produce thunderstorms.”

Holden said the worst rain was forecast to travel south over Auckland and towards the Coromandel Peninsula today.

“The Coromandel is going to be taking a lot of the brunt, helping keep the worst of it off those in the Waikato,” he said.

“Those next in the firing line after that are probably going to be the Bay of Plenty.”

Holden said there was a chance another thunderstorm watch could be issued for the top of the North Island today.

“Anywhere north of Rotorua has the distinct chance of a thunderstorm,” he said.

“[The] areas we are most concerned about are Coromandel, Auckland and Northland in the morning period. From the afternoon, there is more general concern of thunderstorms for Rotorua northwards.”

Niwa said “active weather” was forecast to continue tomorrow and later in the week.

“After showery weather in the upper North Island on Monday, a front could bring more heavy rain and thunderstorms on Tuesday.

“We’ll then have to watch the chance for heavy rain in the upper South Island on Wed[nesday].”

David Williams is an Auckland-based Multimedia Journalist who joined the Herald in 2023. He covers breaking news and general topics.