Parts of the South Island can expect a battering from heavy rain today as a two-day wet spell begins.
Thunderstorms, hail, gales and even tornadoes and snow are possible in some regions.
MetService overnight upgraded to an orange heavy rain warning for part of the Tasman District, with slips, rising rivers and flooding on the cards.
The warning covers the area northwest of Motueka from 4am to 7pm, with thunderstorms also possible.
Residents can expect 80-110mm of rain, especially about the ranges, with localised downpours bringing peak rates of 25-40mm/h this morning.
That amount of rain means “streams and rivers may rise rapidly. Surface flooding, slips, and difficult driving conditions possible”, the forecaster says.
“Clear your drains and gutters to prepare for heavy rain. Avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously.”
Thunderstorms and even “one or two localised tornadoes” could also hit Buller and west of Nelson this morning, the forecaster says. Those areas have a “moderate risk” of thunderstorms, while there is a low risk for the rest of Nelson, Grey, northern and central Westland and much of Marlborough.
This afternoon, northwest Nelson to the Marlborough Sounds have a “moderate risk” of thunderstorms, with heavy rain and possibly hail and “small localised tornadoes”.
The spell of wet weather is forecast to soak New Zealand during the next two days; however, it will clear off in time for Laneway music festivalgoers in Auckland.
MetService forecaster Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told the Herald the country would see most of the wet weather today.
“We are expecting some rain for both islands, as well as some strong winds in some places.”
She said fronts extending from a low-pressure system were the cause of the wet weather.
Meanwhile, heavy rain watches are in place for Marlborough, south of Seddon, and Canterbury, north of the Rangitata River, until 10pm.
“Amounts may approach warning criteria or possibly exceed them, especially in North Canterbury and the Kaikōura District,” MetService said.
There is a high chance this watch will be upgraded to a warning.
Makgabutlane said some of the rain was forecast to fall as snow in the elevated parts of the affected areas – “above about 1200m”.
A strong wind watch is also in place for the Westland and Grey Districts until 7pm. Eastern Marlborough and Wellington will also be under a strong wind watch this evening until early Wednesday morning.
Temperatures are also forecast to reach only the low to mid-teens.
“A cold day expected, with the rain and the wind, it’s not going to feel like a summer’s day.”
Makgabutlane said “waves of rain” were expected to hit the North Island throughout today.
“It doesn’t look like enough to warrant a warning, but it does look like a wet day.
“We also have some strong winds expected by the end of the day, especially in the lower half of the North Island.”
The weather is forecast to improve for Aucklanders on Thursday, just in time for Laneway Festival at Western Springs.
Makgabutlane said the temperature would reach a maximum of 25C with very little wind.
“It looks like quite a nice day.”
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