The MetService is expecting a soggy end to the school holidays for the South and is warning of heavy rain in parts of the region.
In a severe weather watch, the MetService said a front was expected to move slowly eastwards across the upper South Island today.
A low was expected to develop on this front east of central New Zealand this weekend, directing a moist southeast flow onto eastern parts of the South Island.
The heaviest rain was expected over North Otago and inland Canterbury.
A watch for North Otago, Canterbury High Country and the Canterbury plains towards the foothills was in place from 6pm tomorrow to 6pm Sunday.
The MetService said to expect rain with some heavy falls in these areas and said accumulations could approach warning criteria.
The situation is not expected to be much better in other parts of the South, with rain forecast for Dunedin from Friday to Sunday.
The MetService said there was a 20% chance of warning amounts of heavy rain in eastern parts of Otago tomorrow and Sunday.
There was also a 20% chance of warning amounts of rain tomorrow in much of Southland.
The front would also bring strong winds.
