MetService has issued a number of severe weather warnings and watches impacting areas across the country as New Zealand enters the long weekend.
NIWA Weather said on X: “A smorgasbord of active weather will affect NZ on Saturday.”
Orange heavy rain warnings have been issued for the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty and Tairawhiti/Gisborne from 9pm tonight to 9am tomorrow; the Tasman District west of Motueka from 9am to 6pm today; Canterbury High Country from 9am to 8pm today; the Richmond and Bryant ranges, also the Rai Valley from 9am to 8pm today; and the ranges of the Buller District south of Little Wanganui, Nelson Lakes south of Murchison, and the Grey and Westland Districts north of Ross from 9am to 6pm today.
Do you have a photo or video of the severe weather? Send it to news@tvnz.co.nz
West Coast Emergency Management is “closely monitoring” the severe weather across the West Coast region today.
“Members of the public are advised to keep up to date with weather information as rivers may rise quickly, surface flooding and slips are possible and driving conditions could be hazardous,” said group manager Claire Brown.
There has been a slip on Queen Charlotte Drive, approximately 1km before Moenui Road when travelling to Havelock, Marlborough District Council said on Facebook.
Some South Island roads were closed amid the weather.
“Whether it’s rain or snow, much of the South Island will see either one… and for some… it’ll be quite a bit,” said NIWA Weather.
Orange heavy snow warnings were issued for Canterbury High Country south of the Rangitata River, Central Otago and the Queenstown Lakes District from 9am to 9pm today.
MetService said on X: “Te Waipounamu the South Island is getting the lion’s share of the rain this morning.”
Heavy rain watches were issued for Mount Taranaki/Taranaki Mounga from 1pm to 9pm today, the The Buller District from 9am to 5pm today; Nelson/Tasman from Motueka eastwards from 9am to 7pm today; Canterbury Plains west of SH1 from 9am to 7pm today; Queenstown Lakes District from 9am to 9pm today and the eastern parts of North Otago and Dunedin from 9am until midnight today.
Strong wind watches were in place for Taranaki from noon today until 7pm tonight; Taihape from 4pm to 10pm tonight; the Westland District from 9am to 9pm tonight and Fiordland from 9am until 7am tomorrow.
A number of road snowfall warnings were also issued.
“People are advised to keep up to date with forecasts,” MetService said.
