Rain warnings for much of NZ

Photo / Dean Purcell

Heavy rain is predicted to continue for much of New Zealand today.


MetService has issued heavy rain warnings for parts of the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, the Tararua Ranges, Nelson, the Richmond Ranges, the Marlborough Sounds, Buller, Westland, Fordland, and the headwaters of Otago and Canterbury Lakes.

MetService forecaster Heath Gullery said a frontal band over the eastern Bay of Plenty was slowly weakening, but a further 60 to 80mm rain was expected over the eastern Bay of Plenty ranges through to tonight.

Late today and tomorrow a cold front should sweep across southern and central New Zealand, preceded by a very strong moist northerly flow, he said.

"This front should bring very heavy rain to the north and west of the South Island including spillover into the headwaters of the Canterbury and Otago rivers," Mr Gullery said.

Heavy rain is also forecast for Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Range, with 200 to 300mm expected over a 30 hour period from 6pm tonight for the upper slopes of Mt Taranaki, and 150 to 200mm from 3am to 9pm tomorrow on the Tararua Range.

Rainfalls tomorrow and Wednesday in Westland and the Southern Alps are expected to be particularly heavy, with the bulk of the 300 to 400mm of rain forecast falling tomorrow.

Mr Gullery said northwest gales were expected to become severe for a time in Wellington during tomorrow morning and afternoon. Northwest gales may also develop in many eastern areas of the South Island from Marlborough to Southland tomorrow.

MetService said people in the affected areas, particularly trampers and climbers, should plan for severe weather conditions tomorrow with severe gales at higher levels in the mountains, and heavy rain.

Surface flooding and slips are possible, and rivers and rivers may rise rapidly, especially those leading from the Southern Alps into Canterbury and Otago which are likely to rise quickly tomorrow following heavy rain in the Alps.

- NZHERALD STAFF