MetService has issued a red warning for heavy rains expected to create dangerous conditions on the West Coast - it's the forecaster's most extreme category of warning.
The rain started overnight, and while Westland and Buller are expected to bear the brunt - orange warnings are in place for most surrounding areas.
Forecasters warn half a metre of rain could fall in some places between Wednesday and Friday, and the danger could be intensified by high tides, intense thunderstorm downpours and water running off the surface of dry summer ground.
MetService Meteorologist Lewis Ferris spoke to Susie Ferguson.
