Heavy rain warning for lower North Island

File photo / Herald on Sunday

Heavy rain is easing in the South Island but is due to hit the lower North Island today, MetService is forecasting.

A severe weather warning is in place for Manawatu, Wairarapa, and Wellington, while rainfall warnings for Fiordland, Otago, Westland, Canterbury, and Southland have been lifted.

An active front over the centre of the South Island is moving northeast and is expected to slow as it moves over the southern North Island this evening and weaken tomorrow, MetService said.

Forecaster Allister Gorman said the front would bring a period of heavy rain to the Tararua Range from midday today until tomorrow morning, with up to 130mm of rain possible.

"People need to be aware that streams and rivers flowing from the Tararua Range may rise and keep up to date with the latest forecasts and warnings," Mr Gorman said.

He said the heavy rain that had been falling in Westland, Fiordland, Southland and the headwaters of the Otago and Canterbury lakes and rivers had eased in most places.

"There may be a few further heavy fall of rain about the Alps between Arthurs Pass and Mount Cook until midday, but the threat of widespread heavy rain has passed."

NZTA has closed State Highway 73 between Jacksons and Kumara due to flooding and diversions are in place. Drivers are also cautioned of flooding on other South Island roads, including SH6 between Harihari to Haast.

Meanwhile, another tropical cyclone is on the way, although it is predicted to weaken by the time it gets to New Zealand.

Cyclone Zaka is currently a category 1 and is expected to track near Gisborne on Wednesday, WeatherWatch.co.nz head analyst Philip Duncan said.

"On a scale of cyclones this is absolutely at the bottom," he said. "We knew there was a small depression and the difference between it being a small tropical storm and technically becoming a small cyclone was actually only a wind increase of a few kilometres an hour. It's very borderline".

- NZHERALD STAFF