Parts of New Zealand are in for a wet and snowy week as forecasters predict areas will be hit by torrential rain, strong winds, and one or two "damaging tornadoes".
A moist northwest flow will bring periods of heavy rain to much of the country, with Buller and Westland north of Okarito under a heavy rain warning until 4pm on Thursday.
MetService said people in this area can expect 80mm to 100mm of rain, and peak rates of 10 to 20mm/h and thunderstorms are possible.
The greatest accumulations are expected near the coast.
There is also a heavy rain warning for Horowhenua about and south of Levin, Wellington north of the Ngauranga Gorge, and the Tararua Range. This watch lasts from midnight on Wednesday to 6pm on Thursday.
People there can expect 80mm to 100mm of rain and peak rates of 10 to 20 mm/h, especially in thunderstorms during Thursday morning and afternoon.
There is a severe thunderstorm watch for Nelson, Buller, and Westland from midnight to 9am on Thursday.
These scattered thunderstorms are expected to continue affecting the northwest of the South Island, bringing localised heavy rain, hail, and squally wind gusts.
Between midnight and 9am on Thursday, there is a risk that a few of these thunderstorms could be severe with large hail, damaging wind gusts in excess of 110 km/h, and "one or two small or damaging tornadoes".
MetService warns that large hail can cause significant damage to crops, orchards, vines, glasshouses, and vehicles, as well as make driving conditions hazardous.
"Wind gusts of this strength can cause some structural damage, including to trees and power lines, and may make driving hazardous. If any tornadoes occur, they will only affect very localised areas," they said.
There is also a severe thunderstorm watch in Waitomo, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Kapiti-Horowhenua, and Wellington from 8am to 2pm on Thursday.
These scattered thunderstorms are expected to affect western parts of the North Island from Waikato southwards until Thursday evening, MetService said, bringing localised heavy rain, hail, and squally wind gusts.
Between 8am and 2pm on Thursday, there is a risk that a few of these thunderstorms could be severe south of Raglan, with damaging wind gusts in excess of 110km/h and "one or two small or damaging tornadoes".
If tornadoes do occur, they will only affect localised areas, MetService said.
There is also a road snowfall warning over the coming days.
The road to Milford Sound, State Highway 94, has a warning lasting from 10pm on Thursday to 10pm on Friday.
Snow is expected to affect the road from late Thursday evening, MetService said. Then from late Thursday evening to late Friday evening, 40cm to 50 cm of snow may accumulate above about 600 metres with lesser amounts down to about 400 metres.
