Heavy rain warning for West Coast

Wednesday, 6 November 2019

Heavy rain is forecast for Westland through to Buller until Friday, while lesser amounts expected to fall through much of next week.

A heavy rain warning has been issued for parts of the West Coast, with the wet weather expected to persist on the West Coast for nine out of the next 10 days.

MetService meteorologist Angus Hines said a slow moving front is bringing heavy rain to the West Coast on Wednesday and Thursday, before moving slowly north on Friday. A second front is forecast to move onto the South Island during Friday.

'These fronts are expected to bring an extended period of heavy northerly rain to Westland, Buller and the Canterbury headwaters through into Friday. Heavy rain may also persist over the west of the South Island through the weekend,' he said.

The heaviest rain is expected about the ranges of Westland from Fox Glacier northwards where a heavy rain warning remains in force. Some heavy rain may also fall over the ranges of Westland further south and the ranges of Buller. The headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers are also under a watch for heavy rain.

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'Heavy rain will continue to affect the western South Island for the rest of the working week … some places in the Southern Alps could see another 300-400mm of rain between now and then,' Hines said.

Greymouth is forecast to get rain on nine out of the next 10 days.

Hines said people throughout New Zealand should plan for rain this weekend.

'Everywhere is likely to get a dose with the exception of parts in Canterbury. An approaching low looks set to maintain the wet weather through Monday and Tuesday next week.'

The northern half of the North Island from Taranaki and Taupo northwards, including Bay of Plenty, will be mainly fine and warm with high cloud. Areas of low cloud and drizzle are forecast to develop in Northland on Wednesday night, then spread on Thursday evening.

Gisborne, Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, also Whanganui, Taihape and Manawatu will be mainly fine and warm with high cloud, but the chance of a shower on Wednesday afternoon.

Horowhenua, Kapiti and Wellington will be mostly cloudy with scattered rain on Thursday evening.

The top of the South Island will have cloudy periods with patchy rain or drizzle in the afternoons and evenings.

Canterbury, Otago, Southland and Fiordland will be mostly cloudy with scattered rain and isolated showers mostly inland, turning to rain in Fiordland Thursday night.