A severe weather watch has been issued for the Northland as wet and windy weather batters the Coromandel Peninsula today.

Rain is forecast across most of the week for Whitianga. Photo: MetService.

Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Auckland, Taranaki and Westland have also been issued with a severe weather watch.

MetService is predicting heavy rain to fall over northern parts of both islands developing Monday.

A period of significant heavy rain is expected during Monday and into Tuesday in northern and eastern Northland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Nelson, Marlborough and areas of the Canterbury High Country and foothills. A heavy rain warning is in force for these areas.

An active low over the north Tasman Sea is expected to move southwards during Sunday to lie west of the North Island by midnight and become slow moving west of the upper South Island by midday Monday.

The low will spread a moist northeast flow over New Zealand during Sunday and Monday, bringing rain to many northern and central areas of New Zealand.

This severe weather watch covers the possibility that rainfall accumulations could approach warning thresholds in Westland from Sunday to early Monday – and in remaining areas of Northland, Auckland, as well as Western Bay of Plenty and about Mount Taranaki during Monday and into Tuesday.

Residents are advised to keep up to date with latest forecasts in case any of the areas in this watch needs to be included in future warnings.

MetService is forecasting wet weather across the Peninsula for the rest of the week and into next. A 19 degrees high is predicted in Whitianga and Thames today, followed by an overnight low of 12-13 degrees.

Rain with heavy falls and north-easterlies are forecast for tomorrow.