Several orange-level weather warnings have been issued as a “significant storm” moves across New Zealand on Labour Day, bringing heavy rain and strong wind to many regions, including heavy snow to the Canterbury High Country.
MetService said the active low pressure system would impact large areas of the country on Monday and Tuesday.
Heavy rain warnings were in place for the central North Island hill country, Taranaki Maunga, the Tararua Range, and the Richmond and Bryant Ranges. Further south, warnings covered the headwaters of Canterbury’s lakes and rivers, the ranges of Westland north of Haast, and the ranges of Grey and Buller, along with western Tasman. Some areas recorded rainfall totals exceeding 150mm.
A heavy snow warning was issued for the Canterbury High Country south of SH73, where snow fell Monday afternoon and evening, settling above 500 metres.
Strong wind warnings were in effect for Wairarapa, the Tararua District and Wellington, with gusts reaching up to 130km/h in exposed areas.
Watches were also in place for heavy rain in the eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty, and for strong winds across Hawke’s Bay, Gisborne, South Taranaki, Taihape, inland Whanganui, Marlborough, Nelson, Tasman, Banks Peninsula and parts of the Canterbury High Country.
These warnings follow a brief reprieve after days of severe weather wreaked havoc across the country.
A state of emergency remained in place for Southland, the Clutha District, and the Kaikōura District as nearly 15,000 properties in the lower South Island remain without power after severe weather downed trees, damaged homes and shut down more than 100 cell towers on Thursday.
Full list of weather warnings and watches
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
The central North Island hill country from southern Waikato to Tongariro National Park – 12 hours from 5pm Monday to 5am Tuesday
Taranaki Maunga – 13 hours from 2pm Monday to 3am Tuesday
Tararua Range – 15 hours from 2pm Monday to 5am Tuesday
Richmond and Bryant Ranges, including the Rai Valley – 12 hours from 10am to 10pm Monday
Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and north of Arthurs Pass/SH73 – 12 hours from 6am to 6pm Monday
Ranges of the Westland District north of Haast – 21 hours from 10pm Sunday to 7pm Monday
Ranges of Grey and Buller, also Tasman west of Motueka – 14 hours from 8am to 10pm Monday
Heavy Snow Warning – Orange
Canterbury High Country south of SH73 – 7 hours from 2pm to 9pm Monday
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Wairarapa and the Tararua District – 9 hours from 2pm to 11pm Monday
Wellington – 9 hours from 2pm to 11pm Monday
Heavy Rain Watch
Eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty – 12 hours from 10pm Monday to 10am Tuesday
Strong Wind Watch
Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, especially near the ranges – 8 hours from 6pm Monday to 2am Tuesday
South Taranaki to Taihape, including inland Whanganui – 7 hours from 3pm to 10pm Monday
Marlborough (north of Cape Campbell), Nelson and Tasman – 8 hours from 2pm to 10pm Monday
Canterbury High Country north of SH73, Marlborough south of Cape Campbell – 21 hours from 8pm Sunday to 5pm Monday
Canterbury High Country south of SH73 – 10 hours from 8pm Sunday to 6am Monday
Banks Peninsula – 5 hours from 5pm to 10pm Monday