This week may have commuters habitually packing an umbrella, but rain-thirsty farmers on the east coast of both islands will be relieved at the filling of their tanks.

A low pressure system that brought heavy falls of rain to much of the North Island on Sunday is set to stick around for the rest of the week.

The MetService warns that there is a chance of thunderstorms for the Bay of Plenty. File photo.

'As the low weakens on Thursday, another low moves in from the Tasman, keeping the weather pattern pretty much the same,” says MetService meteorologist Tom Adams.

'A ridge of high pressure lies over the far south keeping Southland and the West Coast bathed in spring sunshine, but the rest of the country will see showers almost every day this week.”

Rain is forecast for the Bay of Plenty both today and tomorrow before the sun takes over heading into the weekend.

Hawke's Bay and Gisborne saw heavy rain on Sunday and yesterday morning.

A total of 114mm was recorded at Gisborne airport in the 24 hours to noon on Monday, one-and-a-half times the average total for the whole of September.

'The rain was even heavier in the ranges, with several 24 hour readings in excess of 150mm,” says Tom.

'This rain will clear for a time on Tuesday, before returning again on Thursday. As the focus of the rain moves south, Wairarapa can expect periods of heavy rain from late this afternoon until Thursday.”

Marlborough and the Kaikoura Coast (which has only had 43 per cent of its usual rain so far this year) look set for an extended rainy spell until Thursday.

'Thunderstorms associated with the low could also bring hail and localised downpours to northern Hawke's Bay and Gisborne on Monday, before shifting west to parts of the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Auckland on Tuesday afternoon,” warns Tom.

'Finally, while rain is the big story, strong southeasterly winds that have grounded planes in New Plymouth and caused disruption throughout the central and southern North Island will continue around Kapiti, Wellington and Marlborough through to Tuesday morning.

'Snow which had trapped skiers on Mt Ruapehu will continue throughout Monday, with an additional 10-20cm expected above 800m in Hawke's Bay and the central North Island, while snow is also forecast above 500m in Marlborough. However, as temperatures rise through the week snow should become less prevalent.”