Much of New Zealand will be cloudy and showery today, with Christchurch set to reach 18 deg C today, while Auckland is expecting 20 deg C by about 2pm - just as the rain begins to set in for the afternoon.
Metservice issued a Heavy Rain Watch for the headwaters of Canterbury and Otago lakes and rivers, about and south of Arthur's Pass, from 9pm Wednesday to noon Thursday. A Strong Wind Watch will also be in place for the Canterbury High Country from 9pm Wednesday to 11am Thursday.
Heavy rain with possible thunderstorms could arrive in Westland as soon as 9am, with MetService putting a watch in place through till 3am in the area.
Buller and Tasman could also see heavy rain and thunderstorms from 1pm, with a watch in place through to 6am.
There could also be warning levels of rain to Taranaki Maunga / Mt Taranaki and the Tararua Range tonight, with watches in place from 8pm till 6am.
Severe northwesterly gales are also possible in exposed places from 5pm till 4am in Wairarapa, Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds.
In its severe weather outlook, MetService says a front moving from the east could bring warning amounts of rain for Fiordland and possibly the North Island ranges south of Taupō on Wednesday, while severe northwesterly gales could hit the Canterbury high country, Otago, Southland and Fiordland.
Heavy rain and severe gales could also affect parts of the country on Thursday.
On Friday a “strong, bitterly cold southwesterly flow” is expected to affect the South Island, with snow showers possible down to near sea level for Fiordland and Southland, MetService says.
“While warning amounts of snow are unlikely it could be enough to affect roads and bring stress to livestock.”
Settled weather is expected to return on Saturday with a ridge of high pressure.
Cyclone Lola upgraded to ‘powerful’ Category 5
Meanwhile, a severe tropical cyclone in the Pacific is rapidly gathering strength and has been upgraded to Category 5 as it approaches Vanuatu.
Cyclone Lola is due to make landfall in the island nation within hours, according to Fiji’s Meteorological Service.
Category 5 is the highest category for a tropical cyclone.
“It is a really intense and severe storm.
“It is likely to make a huge impact in places like Vanuatu as we head through the rest of the day and Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Law said winds close to the centre would be gusting on average at 185km/h in addition to intense bursts of rain and huge swells.
He said they will be keeping a close eye on Cyclone Lola as it tracks south, but said it is likely to weaken.
Lola is the first tropical cyclone to form this season, and is unusually early - cyclone season typically runs from November to April.
