What to expect from Cyclone Cook this weekend

All eyes will be on the latest MetService predictions this morning with Cyclone Cook blustering towards the North Island.

The forecaster was last night picking as much as 250-millimetres will be dumped over Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and Taupo.

And Auckland's set for another drenching too with some 160-millimetres tipped to fall.

Heavy rain warnings cover areas in both islands.

In the Bay of Plenty 57 schools and about 80 early learning services have been advised by the Ministry of Education to close today as a precaution ahead of Cyclone Cook.

MetService's weather warnings include heavy rain expected in the north and west of the South Island and Otago last night and early this morning.

The rain is forecast to spread to the North Island today to continue into tomorrow and possibly Friday.

Rainfall accumulations could exceed 200mm over Bay of Plenty and Taupo over 48 hours from midday today.

The expected lashings of rain are unwelcome news for Bay of Plenty residents, where many locals of the flooded town of Edgecumbe remain unable to return to their homes.

This week's weather:

• Whangarei: Showers with heavy falls and thunderstorms, the wet weather continuing into Friday and Saturday.

• Auckland: Heavy falls and thunderstorms, with periods of rain on Thursday. A few showers with northeasterlies on Friday and into the weekend.

• Wellington: Occasional rain, chance heavy afternoon. Occasional rain for Thursday, and showers for Friday and Saturday.

• Christchurch: Periods of light rain with a possibility of heavy falls clearing in the afternoon. Thursday is looking cloudy with light rain falls. Friday is forecast for drizzle with showers on Saturday.

• Dunedin: Today has the potential for some heavy falls, there's brisk, gusty easterlies. Rain eases on Thursday and Friday, with showers on Saturday.

This article was first published on NZ Herald and is republished here with permission. Additional reporting from The Hits.