Torrential downpours on the South Island's West Coast have led to slips and road and school closures, with some sites copping nearly half a metre of rain since Sunday.
Heavy rain continues to pelt the South Island this afternoon with emergency services remaining on standby.
The Waiho Bridge at Haast was washed away about 4:30pm and much of State Highway 6 is now closed.
A number of schools have been forced to close with rivers throughout the West Coastrunning high, many reaching alarm levels.
Haast has faced the brunt of the heavy rain, with over 70mm of rain falling today and 90mm expected by the end of the day.
Westland District Council has activated its emergency operations centre in the local offices and they are continuing to monitor river levels.
Contractors are assisting with road management, with a number of roads and highways being closed in sections due to slips and surface flooding.
One of those is State Highway 6, between Makarora in Mt Aspiring National Park all the way up the coast to Hokitika, which will remain closed overnight.
The bridge over the Waiho River at Haast is washed away. Photo / Supplied
Localised flooding on the South Turnbull Rd in Okuru and south of the Arawhata Bridge has resulted in self-evacuations south of the bridge.
MetService reports a strong and moist northwest flow covering the South Island ahead of an active front over the Tasman Sea is to blame for the weather.
Significant rainfall has already fallen in southern Westland, Fiordland and the headwaters of the south Canterbury and Otago lakes and rivers.
In addition, heavy rain warnings are also in place for Buller, northern Westland and the north Canterbury headwaters.
MetService said the strong front will slide over the South Island today before breaking onto the North Island tomorrow, bringing with it strong winds and heavy rain.
Latest MetService Westland Radar @ 3.22pm, where red & purple highlights areas of heavy rain. There has been 232mm of rain recorded at Franz Josef, 143mm at Haast, and over 400mm in the ranges. Stay up to date at https://t.co/Sd5C6lrsSL and check road closures at @NZTACWC ^Lisa pic.twitter.com/cJYFQ1RCqq
Westland District Mayor Bruce Smith said rivers had reached heights similar to the 2016 floods which caused around $30 million worth of damage.
"We had 390mm of rain last night, and another 300mm is forecast in the next 15 hours. We have just got to hope it all goes down the river," he said.
"We are looking like it is going to continue raining like this. It may all blow over but the rivers really can't take much more before they burst their banks."
Much of State Highway 6 is now closed after flooding and slips. Photo / NZTA
Meanwhile, the South Island's road network has taken a hammering due to the heavy rain and strong winds which have resulted in flooding and slips.
NZ Transport Agency South Island asks motorists to take extra care with the extreme weather, debris and flooding impacting sections of road.
Unfortunately, we've had to close part of Glenorchy-Paradise Road at Diamond Lake (pictured). Wanaka-Mt Aspiring Road and Kinloch Road remain closed. 📸 credit goes to our Downer road crews. pic.twitter.com/JKDwoffxpe
State Highway 6 between Hokitika and Makarora is closed due to flooding and slips. NZTA South Island said the next update on the roads can be expected at 8am tomorrow.
Unfortunately heavy rain and a slip on SH6 means the road will have to remain closed overnight from Makarora all the way through to Hokitika. We hope to have an update tomorrow morning on the road's condition. pic.twitter.com/FyDRF8KiN9
There would be even larger accumulations in the ranges but there were no rain gauges in the hardest-hit spots, Glassey said.
Farther north, Franz Josef had recorded about 160mm since Sunday, but the heaviest falls were expected today as the front edged up the country.
The rain would ease about Fiordland but intensify in Westland through the day before reaching Buller and the lower southwest North Island tomorrow.
There were still heavy rain warnings in place for many places including Westland south of Otira, the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers south of Arthurs Pass, headwaters of Otago lakes and rivers, and Fiordland.
Flooding at Harihari today, up State Highway 6 from nearby Fox and Franz Josef glaciers, as heavy rain falls. Photo / Supplied
Once the front reached the North Island there could be some heavy falls around Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Ranges, but it would have greatly weakened leaving just some isolated showers on the flats for the end of the week, Glassey said.
Milford Sound recorded 357 mm in a 24 hour period, making it the 6th wettest day since records began in 1929.
