MetService says the district will is in for heavy rainfall and anyone out and about driving after 8pm should take care.
The watch was issued for Porirua, the Kāpiti Coast District, Lower Hutt, and Upper Hutt residents, which will come into effect at 8pm on Wednesday until 8am Thursday.
A heavy rain watch is in place for Wellington and other parts of central New Zealand as a slow-moving front brings rain and thunderstorms to the bottom of the North Island.
There’s possibility of localised heavy falls of 25mm per hour or even more, which could cause surface flooding over urban areas.
Rain’s expected to start on Wednesday afternoon and become heavy in the evening.
Niwa said Wellington might see gusts near 100 km/h in the early hours of Thursday morning.
MetService meteorologist Lewis Serras said there’s a potential for heavy rain within the band of the rain expected over Wellington.
“The heavy rainfall should occur while residents will be in their bed but anyone out and about driving after 8pm should take care.“
Mr Serras said there’s going to be a “noticeable chill” to the air with temperatures expected to go down to mid and low teens in Wellington over the next two days.
The good news is “A good part of country will see fine weather over the weekend… less wind and less wet weather.”