Weather alerts issued for much of New Zealand

A large number of weather alerts have been issued for regions up and down the country as two active fronts approach New Zealand.

You can find a full list of all weather watches and warnings below.

According to MetService, the first front, preceded by heavy rain and gale northwesterlies, was expected to move northwards over the South Island today and tomorrow morning.

Another active front, preceded by gale north easterlies, was expected to move over the upper North Island tomorrow.

Orange heavy rain warnings were issued for parts of the North and South Islands.

For the South Island, orange rain warnings were issued for Fiordland (about and north of Doubtful Sound), the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers, the headwaters of the South Canterbury lakes and rivers, and the ranges of the Westland District.

The ranges of the Westland District were expected to get between 140 to 180 mm of rain, especially around and south of the glaciers. That warning is in place for 21 hours from 9am today to 6am tomorrow.

The other regions were expected to get between up to 150mm of rain, with warnings lasting from this morning until tonight.

Heading into tomorrow, orange rain warnings in the North Island were issued for Northland, Bay of Plenty (about and east of Whakatāne and Gisborne/Tairāwhiti north of Ruatoria), Tongariro National Park and Mount Taranaki/Taranaki Mounga.

Mount Taranaki/Taranaki Mounga was expected to experience the most rain, with 150 to 250mm predicted to fall. The region's warning was for 15 hours from midnight tonight to 3pm on Friday.

Most of the warnings in the North Island would be in place between tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening.

MetService warned that streams and rivers could rise "rapidly". Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions were possible.

"Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously," the forecaster said.

Northland was also under a severe thunderstorm watch for eight hours between 9am and 5pm tomorrow. MetService said there was a moderate risk of downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h.

"Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips."

Several heavy rain watches were also issued across the country.

They were in Auckland (including the Great Barrier Island), Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty (west of Whakatāne including the Kaimai Range), Waikato (excluding the Kaimai Range), Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō, North Taranaki (excluding the Mount Taranaki/Taranaki Mounga), Nelson northwest of Motueka, The Richmond and Bryant Ranges, and the Rai Valley.

Strong wind watches were issued for Queenstown Lakes District, Central Otago, Clutha west of Tapanui, Fiordland, Southland, Stewart Island, Northland, Auckland, South Taranaki, inland Whanganui, Taihape, and the Canterbury High Country.

Severe thunderstorm watch

Northland – 8 hours from 9am Friday

Orange heavy rain warning

Northland – 14 hours from 3am Friday

Bay of Plenty about and east of Whakatāne, Gisborne/ Tairawhiti north of Ruatoria - 12 hours from 3pm Friday

Tongariro National Park – 12 hours from 8am Friday

Mount Taranaki – 15 hours from midnight Thursday

The ranges of Westland – 21 hours from 9am Thursday

Headwaters of South Canterbury lakes and rivers – 9 hours from 10pm Thursday

Headwaters of Otago lakes and rivers – 9 hours from 4pm Thursday

Fiordland about and north of Doubtful Sound – 12 hours from 9am Thursday

Heavy rain watch

Auckland including Great Barrier Island – 12 hours from 6am Friday

Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty west of Whakatāne including the Kaimai Range – 12 hours from 8am Friday

Waikato excluding the Kaimai Range, also Waitomo, Taumarunui and Taupō – 12 hours from 8am Friday

North Taranaki excluding Mount Taranaki – 18 hours from midnight Thursday

Nelson northwest of Motueka – 15 hours from 9pm Thursday

The Richmond and Bryant Ranges, Rai Valley - 18 hours from 9pm Thursday

Strong wind watch

Queenstown Lakes District, Central Otago and Clutha west of Tapanui – 12 hours from 9am Thursday

Fiordland, Southland and Stewart Island – 10 hours from 9am Thursday

Northland – 8 hours from 4am Friday

Auckland including Great Barrier Island – 8 hours from 7am Friday

South Taranaki, inland Whanganui and Taihape – 9 hours from 6am Friday

Canterbury High Country – 17 hours from 9am Thursday