Kaikōura residents told to brace for heavy rain
Saturday, 23 February 2019
Kaikōura residents may need to brace themselves for heavy rain on Sunday.
MetService issued a severe weather warning for Kaikōura on Saturday night and Sunday morning, for heavy rain and possible thunderstorms.
A trough was forecast to move northwards through North Canterbury, Marlborough and Wellington.
The heaviest falls were expected around the Kaikōura coast and ranges.
READ MORE: Break in the weather giving way to wet Sunday
The rain could cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.
MetService expected up to 120mm of rain in the worst affected areas.
Colder southerlies spread over the country tomorrow. Here are Sunday's expected highs. Get your forecast here https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^SG pic.twitter.com/zbTYB2BOsG
— MetService (@MetService) February 23, 2019
At its peak, rain of 15 to 25mm per hour was expected, but 25mm to 35mm per hour could be possible in the worst spots.
The warning is in place from 1am to 1pm on Sunday.
WET SUNDAY AHEAD
On Sunday, most of the North Island is expected to get some rain, with some heavy falls forecast.
That includes Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, where there's a chance of localised downpours at rates up to 40mm an hour.
Heavy rain is also possible in the Canterbury foothills north of the Rakaia River.
Cold southerly gales are expected in the east of the South Island on Sunday, spreading into the North Island.