Wild weather is set to return to the South today and the MetService says winds could reach 120kmh in exposed places.
Temperatures hit the mid-20s in parts of Otago yesterday but things are expected to take a turn for the worse today as a front moves northeast over the South Island.
The MetService said the front would be preceded by a strong, moist northwesterly flow likely to bring heavy rain to the west of the South Island.
Between 60mm and 90mm of rain was likely to fall in Fiordland in Westland, north of Doubtful Sound. A watch for the possibility of severe northwesterly gales had been issued for Southland north of Lumsden, Queenstown Lakes, Central Otago and the Canterbury high country.
The watch is in place for 1am to 6pm today and northwesterlies were expected to rise to gale force in exposed places last night but ease late today. There was a low chance of thunderstorms in eastern parts of Otago, including Dunedin, this afternoon and evening.
