There could be up to 190mm of rain between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, with peak rates of 20 to 30mm per hour. Photo: Supplied / MetService
A heavy rain warning has been issued for the West Coast, Canterbury, and Otago.
MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said there was a front sweeping across the South Island from Tasman, which was expected to bring strong north to north-westerly winds, along with periods of heavy rain.
There could be up to 190mm of rain between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning, with peak rates of 20 to 30 millimetres per hour.
"We have three heavy rain warnings out. One for the Ranges of Westland, that's kicking off at 2pm on Sunday and that'll go through to 6am on Monday. One for the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass, that's kicking off 5pm Sunday and carrying through until 5am on Monday," Bakker said.
"Our third heavy rain warning is for the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers, that's kicking off 2pm on Sunday going through to 2am on Monday."
MetService said to avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously as surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions were possible.
There was also a heavy rain watch for the ranges of Grey and Buller, and a strong wind watch for the Canterbury High Country north of Mount Cook, and Marlborough south of Ward, from 6pm Sunday night until 6am Monday.
Both had a moderate chance of being upgraded to a warning, Bakker said.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
