MetService has issued severe weather warnings and watches in areas across New Zealand as heavy rain, strong winds, and thunderstorms are set to batter the country.
Winds may reach severe gales in some areas and heavy rain could last for nearly two days in some parts of Aotearoa.
MetService said on Tuesday that an active front is forecast to move quickly southeast across New Zealand overnight. Brief heavy rain and strong northeasterlies are expected ahead of the front for many places, followed by the risk of heavy rain and severe gale northwesterlies across parts of central and southern New Zealand.
Watches and warnings for heavy rain and strong winds cover many parts of the country. MetService advises people to keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case any changes are made, or more areas are added.
Heavy rain warnings
Orange heavy rain warnings are forecast in three areas. MetService warned that heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.
The ranges of Tasman west of Motueka have a six-hour warning from 9pm, May 31 to 3am June 1. People in the area can expect 60 to 90 mm of rain to accumulate, with peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h and thunderstorms possible.
Buller's warning lasts 32 hours from 10pm, May 31 to 6am, June 2. People there can expect 120 to 170 mm of rain to accumulate south of Karamea and 70 to 100 mm further north, mainly about the ranges. There are peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h overnight on Tuesday and thunderstorms are possible.
And in Westland, the warning lasts 39 hours from 12am, June 1 to 3pm, June 2. Expect 170 to 250 mm of rain to accumulate about the ranges south of Otira and 100 to 150 mm elsewhere. Peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h are expected and thunderstorms are possible.
Heavy rain watches
There are four heavy rain watches across New Zealand, some of which could last up to 24 hours. Watches are different from warnings, in that they are issued whenever there's an expectation that conditions may deteriorate.
Around Mt Taranaki, the watch lasts for six hours from 9pm, May 31 to 3am, June 1. There will be a period of heavy rain and rainfall amounts may approach short-duration warning criteria.
In the Tararua Ranges, the watch lasts for 12 hours from 12pm, June 1 to 12am, June 2. There will also be periods of heavy rain there, where rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.
The Richmond and Bryant Ranges, the Rai Valley area, and northern Marlborough Sounds have a 24-hour watch from 12am, June 1 to 12am, June 2. There will be periods of heavy rain here and rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.
And at the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers, there's also a 24-hour watch ere from 9am, June 1 to 9am, June 2. There will be periods of heavy rain and rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria within 15 km east of the main divide.
Heavy wind watches
There are six heavy wind watches across many areas of New Zealand.
Across Northland, Auckland including Great Barrier Island, and the Coromandel Peninsula, the watch lasts for six hours from 8pm, May 31 to 2am, June 1. North to northeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.
In Taihape and the ranges of Hawke's Bay north of Keruru, the watch lasts 21 hours from 9pm, May 31 to 6pm, June 1. North to northeast winds turn northwest early Wednesday morning, and these winds may approach severe gales in exposed places.
The watch in Taranaki lasts six hours from 9pm, May 31 to 3am, June 1. North to northeast winds may approach severe gales in exposed places.
In Wellington, Wairarapa about and south of Featherston, and inland Marlborough and the Marlborough Sounds, the watch lasts 17 hours from 10am, June 1 to 3am, June 2. Northwest winds may approach severe gales in exposed places.
In the Canterbury High Country, the 17-hour watch lasts from 10am, June 1, to 3am, June 2. Northerly winds may approach severe gales in exposed places.
And in Fiordland and Westland south of Fox Glacier, the watch lasts six hours from 9pm, May 31, to 3am, June 1. North to northeast winds may approach severe gales in exposed places.
