Some parts of the country are in for a wet and windy Queen's Birthday holiday tomorrow.
Photo: Hannah Domsic/ Unsplash
MetService has issued warnings that heavy rain could fall in southern and central Westland, the Otago headwaters and northwest Nelson between tonight and tomorrow night.
Heavy rain watches are in place for Fiordland, northern Westland, Buller, Richmond Range, Northland, Coromandel Peninsula and the Canterbury headwaters.
Meteorologist Andy Best said the coming rain could impact on people in Canterbury, who suffered severe flooding in the past week.
"It may influence those areas much further inland, towards the foothills, where the rivers may see some accumulation," Best said.
"It will affect the river tributaries and the river flow in those regions."
Floodwaters have covered much of mid-Canterbury over the past week. Photo: supplied/Gavin Mulvay
MetService is predicting strong northerly winds will precede a front moving over the South Island today and tomorrow.
"A low should affect the upper North Island tomorrow and Monday.
"These features are expected to bring periods of heavy rain to the west of the South Island and upper North Island."
Strong winds could blast Fiordland, inland parts of Southland and Otago, the Canterbury High Country, Northland and Auckland.
Environment Canterbury is closely monitoring river levels, because 10 to 20mm of rain is forecast to fall in some parts of the region today.
Staff are watching for potential problems with roads, bridges or stopbanks.
Efforts to clean up flood damage caused last week are continuing.
Welfare teams are visiting rural homes to find out what residents need.
Emergency Management Canterbury Group Controller Don Chittock said they wanted to build a more complete picture of the social and economic impacts of the flooding.
Chittock said anyone who was struggling could talk to a trained counsellor by texting or calling 1737 or could contact the Rural Support Trust.
