Severe weather warnings have been issued as a front coming off the Tasman Sea moves onto the southern South Island on Saturday.
MetService said this "active front" is forecast to bring rainfall "well above the minimum amount" needed for orange warnings.
Orange heavy rain warnings have been issued for these areas:
- Fiordland
- The headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers
- Westland about and south of Ōtira
- The headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass
At the same time, strong and gusty northwesterly winds are expected in the east of the South Island as well as Fiordland.
"Wind gusts of 120km/h are expected in exposed areas within those regions covered by orange warnings, likely reaching 130km/h across much of the Canterbury high country where there is a higher risk of damaging wind gusts," MetService said on Facebook.
The rain will reach the North Island on Sunday; while it will have lost much of its intensity it will continue to bring wet weather on its way north.
Meanwhile the South Island faces another front - this time a cold one moving northwards on Sunday morning.
"A strong northwest flow precedes the front, and heavy rain is expected about the western South Island. Severe weather warnings and watches remain in force," MetService said.
