Floods in south anticipated

Previous flooding in Otago. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Holidaymakers are on alert after heavy rain brought flood warnings for the lower South Island.

The MetService has issued a severe weather warning for Westland and Fiordland and put Tasman district on a severe weather watch, saying a low-pressure system would pass today and tomorrow.

But MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said the low would weaken as it approached.

"There may still be sufficient amounts of rain reaching the Clutha catchment during [today] so that people near the already-high southern lakes and rivers should keep a close watch for further rises in water levels."

As the low moved away tomorrow, a cool southerly wind change was expected to spread across the eastern South Island and reach Cook Strait by nightfall, he said.

The Otago Regional Council has advised farmers to move stock to higher ground and said campers should also be aware of rapidly rising lake and river levels.

Council flood manager Phillip Purves said further rainfall was predicted for the Clutha catchment.

The metService was predicting up to 100mm of rain at the divide, and 25-50mm over the rest of the catchment today.

Wanaka and Wakatipu lakes were high, he said, and with the predicted rainfall they would peak tomorrow morning.

- NZPA