Heavy rain watch issued for Dunedin

The MetService has issued a severe weather watch for heavy rain in Dunedin and other parts of the South today.

The weather watch was issued this morning and the MetService said in the Dunedin and Clutha Districts rainfall accumulations could reach warning criteria between 10am this morning and 2am tomorrow.

Today's bad weather is the start of a bad run for the South, with thunderstorms possible tomorrow, heavy rain on Sunday and snow to as low as 400m on Monday and Tuesday.

A watch was also in place for Southland and Fiordland south of Doubtful Sound between 10am and 10pm today.

Watches were also in place for much of the West Coast.

The MetService said a cold front over the lower South Islandwas forecast to move slowly northwards during today and Saturday, delivering a period of rain to western and southern parts of the South Island. 

People were advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case other areas were added to the watch, or parts of this watch were upgraded to a full warning.

Meanwhile more bad weather, including snow and possible heavy rain, is forecast on the weekend.

MetService says a front edging up from the south will move over the western South Island on Saturday, then a cold southerly will spread up the east on Sunday and make ground over the North Island.

This will mean increasing cloud, with a spell of rain just about everywhere as the front moves up the country.

In eastern Otago and in south and mid Canterbury there was also the possibility of some heavy showers and a low risk of isolated thunderstorms during the afternoon and evening tomorrow, mainly about inland areas.

There was a moderate confidence of heavy rain over Westland on Saturday.

There is also low confidence that rainfall accumulations will meet warning criteria in parts of Southland and Otago on Sunday and Monday.

This southerly will also bring strong winds to the whole of the east coast, and snow as low as 400m in Southland and Otago and 800 metres in Canterbury on Monday and Tuesday.

The MetService forecast for rural Dunedin predicts snow as low 400m in rural Dunedin.

Snow could also affect higher roads and conditions could be "hazardous" for stock in places.

"Spring still has a few tricks up its sleeve and windy, changeable conditions are a big part of that," said MetService meteorologist Tom Adams.

 

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