Photo: Supplied/ MetService
The rain is pouring down on the West Coast and at the top of the South - with real fears about what's to come.
A state of emergency is in place on the West Coast with 'red' severe weather warnings for Buller and Westland.
Further north, emergency operations are gearing up at the top of the South Island, with orange level warnings in place in the Tasman, Marlborough and Nelson regions.
An emergency operation centre has opened in Golden Bay as the region prepares for expected flooding and road closures.
The heaviest rain so far has been at Franz Josef where a close watch is being kept on the Waiho River.
Westland Civil Defence Controller Andy Thompson tells Kathryn rivers are already swollen and fears of serious flooding are mounting.
