A severe weather watch has been issued by MetService this morning, with gales and heavy rain forecast for central and southern parts of New Zealand.
A front is moving slowly over the South Island up to the North Island today, with the risk that accumulated rainfall in central regions may approach warning amounts by this evening.
In particular, the following areas are expected to receive heavy rain throughout today: northern Westland, Buller, northwest Nelson, Marlborough from the Sounds to the Richmond Range, Mount Taranaki today, and in Fiordland.
MetService is also predicting northerly winds may approach severe gale strength this afternoon and early evening in exposed parts of Taranaki, Wellington and Marlborough.
All of the severe weather warnings above will have passed by 9pm tonight, when the northerly front moves east overnight.
There is also a risk of thunderstorms behind the front moving across the upper South Island and onto the North Island from this afternoon.
A few lightning strikes have already been recorded out to the west of the South Island this morning.
To get specifics on when the heavy rain watch, and the strong wind watch, begin and end for each region in this list visit MetService .
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