Plans for the weekend?

If you live in the north island and your plans involve going outside I'd cancel them.

Check out this from www.metservice.co.nz:

MAJOR STORM EXPECTED TO AFFECT MUCH OF THE NORTH ISLAND THIS WEEKEND A low is crossing the north Tasman Sea today and is expected to deepen rapidly as it approaches northern New Zealand Saturday morning.The unusually intense low is forecast to move over Cape Reinga late Saturday afternoon then track southeastwards to lie near the Coromandel Peninsula at midnight and near East Cape midday Sunday. A front ahead of the low is expected to bring widespread rain to the North Island by the end of Saturday and gales are likely to affect most parts of the North Island. The heaviest rain should be in Northland,northern Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Gisborne and Hawkes Bay ranges and these areas streams and rivers could rise quickly along with some surface flooding.East to southeast gales may affect many parts of the North Island with strongest winds gusting to around 120 km/h in parts of Northland,Auckland,Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, eastern Bay of Plenty,Gisborne, the central North Island,Manawatu and Wellington.MetService advises the public that winds of this strength have the potential to cause damage and make driving hazardous.Boaties are advised to make moorings secure as high winds and large waves are likely about northern and eastern coasts of the North Island.

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL USERS FOLLOWS:

HEAVY RAIN WARNING

AREAS AFFECTED: NORTHLAND NORTHERN AUCKLAND COROMANDEL PENINSULA WESTERN BAY OF PLENTY GISBORNE HAWKES BAY FORECAST:

NORTHLAND AND AUCKLAND NORTH OF OREWA In the period between 6am and 9pm Saturday, 80 to 100mm possible with heaviest falls about northern and eastern hills. Peak intensities of 10 to 15mm per hour.

COROMANDEL PENINSULA BAY OF PLENTY WEST OF KAWERAU In the 24 hours from 9am Saturday to 9am Sunday, 150 to 200mm in the ranges.On lower lying eastern areas 60 to 90mm possible and west of the ranges 50 to 70 mm.

GISBORNE NORTH OF GISBORNE CITY In the period from 6pm Saturday to noon on Sunday, 80 to 100mm possible in the ranges. Peak intensities of 10 to 20mm possible with a few thunderstorms Saturday night.

SOUTHERN GISBORNE, AND HAWKES BAY NORTH OF WAIPUKURAU In the 21 to 24 hours from 6pm Saturday 80 to 100mm possible in the ranges. The rain should gradually ease from areas south of Napier around the middle of the day as easterly winds turn southerly. The rain easing farther north towards evening.

STRONG WIND WARNING

AREA AFFECTED: NORTHLAND AUCKLAND WAIKATO COROMANDEL PENINSULA BAY OF PLENTY GISBORNE TAUPO TAIHAPE TARANAKI WANGANUI MANAWATU WELLINGTON

FORECAST:

NORTHLAND Easterly winds rising to gale during Saturday morning and likely to reach severe gale in exposed places during the afternoon and early evening with gusts around 120 km/h.

AUCKLAND COROMANDEL PENINSULA WAIKATO WAITOMO BAY OF PLENTY TAUPO East to southeast winds rising to gale during Saturday late afternoon or evening.Between 3pm and midnight Saturday in Auckland, and 6pm to 3am Sunday farther south, winds may reach severe gale in some exposed areas with gusts to around 130 km/h.

TARANAKI TAIHAPE WANGANUI MANAWATU WELLINGTON In the period from Saturday midnight to midday Sunday, southeast winds may gust to around 110 km/h at times in some exposed places.

NEXT SEVERE WEATHER WARNING WILL BE ISSUED AT OR BEFORE 9:00pm Friday 25-Jul-2008