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Big storm brewing in Southern Ocean set to hit parts of South Island on Monday

March 15, 2018

TVNZ weather presenter Dan Corbett with the latest update.

A big storm forming in the Southern Ocean is set to bring heavy rain and wind to Fiordland and Westland early next week, but MetService says high pressure will block the system from the rest of the country.

Meteorologist John Law told 1 NEWS a deep area of low pressure is "running around Antarctica" and it is a big system.

But he said the dominant feature in New Zealand this weekend and into the start of next week will be a high pressure system which is a good block to the low.

Mr Law said the strongest winds from the storm will be offshore.

1 NEWS meteorologist says the West Coast will get some rain and wind from the storm on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, MetService has issued severe weather warnings for heavy rain for parts of the West Coast from this afternoon until the morning, and warnings for severe gales through the Canterbury High Country overnight tonight. 

Westland, south of Otira, should expect 150 to 200mm of rain to accumulate about the ranges, with 60 to 80mm possible near the coast.

Fiordland can also expect rain with heavy falls today, easing in the early hours of the morning.

The Canterbury High Country can expect severe gale northwesterlies gusting 120 km/h in exposed places at times overnight tonight.

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