Wild weather to hit southern, central parts

A vigorous front which has hammered the lower South Island with high winds and rain will attack central parts of the country today.

The MetService has issued a severe weather warning, predicting heavy rain and wind gusts up to 130km/h in Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa until late afternoon.

Forecaster Gerard Barrow said about 80mm of rain was expected in the ranges of Buller and northwest Nelson until early afternoon.

It would come on top of heavy overnight rain and people in the area were warned to watch out for rapidly rising rivers and streams.

Anyone around rivers east of the divide in Canterbury and Otago should also be cautious as heavy rainfall in the mountains made it way down to the coast.

Heavy rain is forecast for the Tararua range today as the front moves through.

Severe northwesterly wind gusts in central parts would make driving difficult, and had the potential to damage trees and powerlines, Mr Barrow said.

The wind would affect Hawke's Bay this evening.

Meanwhile, the heavy rain and strong winds which buffeted the southern half of the South Island overnight eased this morning, ahead of another front which is due to bring more heavy rain to the Southern Alps tomorrow.

- NZPA