1 Jan 2017

Wet and windy start to 2017 likely for some

10:03 am on 1 January 2017

Heavy rain is expected to hit the parts of the country today.

Bad weather in Auckland. Woman walks with an umbrella under the rain

Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

MetService has issued a severe weather warning for Buller, Wairarapa, Kapiti, Horowhenua, Tararua and Wellington.

It expects the heaviest rain to hit the ranges around Buller at about midday, while the Tararua Range will get up to 200 millimetres up until 3am tomorrow.

In Wellington and Wairarapa, gusts of up to 130 kilometres an hour are likely, before they ease this evening.

MetService says the gusts could potentially cause damage and be hazardous for people riding motorcycles or driving high-sided vehicles, especially over the Rimutaka Hill Road.

The severe weather warning for Westland has been lifted.