Covering period of Thursday 7th - Monday 11th May

• Heavy rain expected for the western and northern South Island today (Thursday)
• Heavy Rain Warnings have been issued for the northern and western South Island (excluding Fiordland), with Heavy Rain Watches for Southland and Taranaki Maunga.
• Strong Wind Warnings have been issued for Taranaki, Wellington, and parts of Marlborough and the Canterbury High Country.
• Further heavy rain and strong wind Friday and Saturday
• Heavy swells expected over the weekend

The west and north of the South Island is in for a double dose of heavy rain to end the week, as a front moves over the region today, followed by a rapidly deepening low pressure system during Friday and Saturday.

Heavy Rain Warnings have been issued for the northern and western South Island (excluding Fiordland), with Heavy Rain Watches for Southland and Taranaki Maunga.

Strong Wind Warnings have been issued for Taranaki, Wellington, and parts of Marlborough and the Canterbury High Country. Strong Wind Watches are in place for Taihape, inland Whanganui, Buller, Grey, northern Westland, and northern Fiordland.

Parts of Westland District, and the headwaters of the Otago and southern Canterbury lakes and rivers, have already seen 50 to 100 mm of rain since midnight last night, and can expect further heavy rain until this evening (Thursday).

MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker states, “Yet another round of heavy rain is set to arrive in these regions Friday afternoon and continue into Saturday. Further warnings are likely to be issued for this event, and for the ranges of Westland District the total rainfall for Thursday through Saturday is expected to reach 500 to 600 mm.”

For the Grey and Buller districts, the heavy rain is expected to fall from today until Friday evening, with parts of Nelson and Marlborough joining suit from this evening.

Bakker advises, “If you are in a region under a Heavy Rain Warning, and it is safe to do so, clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. In general, avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.”

Strong winds are expected as the low pressure system crosses the South Island and its associated fronts sweep over the North Island on Friday and Saturday. Taranaki, Wellington, Marlborough southeast of the Awatere River, and the Canterbury High Country north of the Rangitata River can all expect severe gale north to northwesterlies in exposed places, with gusts of 130 to 140 km/h. For Taranaki and Marlborough, the risk is on Friday from 3pm to midnight, while Wellington and the Canterbury High Country will see the winds stick around until Saturday morning.

“If you’re in an area covered by a Strong Wind Warning, prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. If you need to drive, drive cautiously,” warns Bakker.

Those strong winds will also drive heavy swell into some marine areas. Combined waves of 4 to 5 metres are expected for the west coast on Friday, rising above 6 metres in the south Saturday and spreading to most areas of the country exposed to the south on Sunday.

© Scoop Media