KEY POINTS:
More bad weather is on the way for much of the South Island and parts of the North.
MetService meteorologists have issued a heavy rain warning for Westland and a severe weather watch for heavy rain in Fiordland, Nelson, Buller and the Marlborough Sounds.
On top of this, a severe weather watch has been issued for wind over southern parts of the North Island and also for Banks Peninsula as another depression is forecast to track across the South Island during the weekend.
"We are having a brief break at present but a fast-moving depression is expected to bring more wind and rain to parts of the country late on Saturday and early on Sunday," MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said.
"The Westland ranges will be the first place to be hit with heavy rain during Saturday."
Mr McDavitt added that other parts of the country may get a burst of wind or rain late Saturday or early Sunday.
"As this depression crosses the South Island rain may become heavy over the Nelson and the Buller ranges, and spread on to Central and Southern Canterbury as well as North Otago along with some snow in the hills. The Bay of Plenty Ranges are also likely to see a quick burst of intense rain late on Saturday night.
"It could get very windy early on Sunday morning with brief westerly gales affecting southern parts of the North Island and southwest gales about Banks Peninsula."
Mr McDavitt said this weekend's weather system was fast-moving.
"Weather forecast details are likely to vary according to the path it takes and these can be found on our website or through the media. The series of lows that have affected us recently is all too typical of spring, and the next major front is likely in the middle of next week."
- NZPA
