An Autumn equinox Tasman low kicks off wet season

The wet season has started right on schedule this year, with Autumn equinox rain arriving to the relief of many. The first upper-level low pressure system from the polar region was the catalyst as it connected with subtropical moisture to produce high instability across the upper North island

23 March evening storms - Credit Grant Birley

Over the course of 5 days, there were periods of rain, downpours and thunderstorms giving all areas of the region a good drop. Here are your local rainfall totals in mm from 18 March to 24 March.

349 Ruakaka

314 Kaiwaka

308 Algies Bay

290 Waikino

279 Maungatapere

274 Redvale

260 Hatfields Beach

225 Hobsonville point

212 Whangarei Heads

207 Orewa

206 Matakana

206 Wellsford

198 Pinnacles

187 Muriwai

186 Warkworth

184 Gulf harbour

184 Kaukapakapa

175 Northcote Point

173 Red Beach

171 Birkdale

167 Dome Forest

166 Pataua North

166 Whitianga

165 Kerikeri

160 Birkenhead

160 Pakiri

159 Leigh

157 Mahurangi

157 Whangarei

155 Mangawhai

155 Swanson

153 Bucklands beach

153 Dairy Flat

153 Hunua

153 Long Bay

153 Waipu

150 Browns Bay

150 Kawau Island

150 Silverdale

148 Waihi

147 Omaha

146 Rothesay Bay

145 Beach Haven

143 Ellerslie

142 Devonport

141 Beachlands

141 Rosedale

140 Helensville

139 Kaipara Flats

139 Waiheke Island (Onetangi)

138 Albany

138 Hamilton

134 Bayswater

134 St Heliers

133 Tapora

132 Mangatangi dam

132 Torbay

132 Manukau

131 Greenhithe

131 Piha

131 Stanmore Bay

129 Glenfield

129 Mairangi Bay

129 Takapuna

128 Grey Lynn

128 Onehunga

127 Mission Bay

124 Auckland city

124 Kumeu

123 Mt Eden

122 Coatesville

122 Waitakere

121 Castor Bay

121 Milford

121 Riverhead

116 Ngunguru

112 Tutukaka

110 Paremoremo

108 Dargaville

106 Coromandel

105 Waiheke Island (Omiha)

104 Titirangi

103 Howick

103 Whangaparaoa

101 Castle Rock

101 West Harbour

101 Whenuapai

92 Waiheke Island (Matiatia)

92 Waikawau

90 Henderson

89 Port Waikato

86 Waiuku

86 Whitford

84 Kaipara Heads

83 Clevedon

76 Matarangi

74 Pauanui

71 Te Mata

70 Pukekohe

69 Thames

66 Whangamata

65 Bombay

61 Awhitu Peninsula

61 Miranda

59 Great Barrier Is

59 Kopu

51 Wharekawa

50 Kaiaua

40 Ngatea

Source: Online private and council weather stations.

Note: With heavy downpours, some localised large differences can occur between close gauges

23 March storm clouds over east Auckland credit Ethan Phillips

23 March Gulf light show credit Heather Jeffery