Arrangements are “well underway” for West Coast Emergency Management (WCEM) to activate an Emergency Operation Centre as required from tomorrow morning as a major weather system is set to bring days of heavy rain and strong winds to the West Coast.
The updated MetService warning remains at orange, but one key change is an increase in rainfall intensity from 20-30mm an hour to 25-35mm an hour.
Updates had been provided at a meeting this morning by MetService, emergency services services and other key agencies such as infrastructure entities, representatives from the farming community.
Several agencies are also deploying additional resource into the area. This includes support personal for South Westland.
“There is a considerable amount of caution and concern regarding this weather event. We cannot be complacent,” said WCEM group manager Claire Brown.
“There are a number of events and activities around the coast at this time. We are asking everyone to keep up to date on the road conditions and to be careful travelling as the worst of the weather passes by in the next three days.”
MetService meteorologist John Law said the heaviest rainfall is expected in the Western District, particularly south of Hokitika.
He said it's not unusual for the West Coast to see a fair amount of rainfall – but this is a "significant weather event".
"It is a prolonged activity as well, right the way through the rest of today and for the next couple of days."
Rainfall totals could get up to 600-800mm in the ranges and Law said all that rain has to go somewhere.
"Feeding down in towards the lakes and roads, so we will find those streams and rivers rising pretty rapidly for the next few days."
Orange heavy rain warnings have also been issued for the headwaters of Canterbury Lakes and Rivers south of Arthurs Pass from 2pm today to 5pm Thursday, the headwaters of the Otago Lakes and Rivers from 10am today to 8am tomorrow and Fiordland about and north of George Sound from 9am today to 3am tomorrow.
Heavy rain watches have been put in place for the Grey District and Westland north of Hokitika from 6pm tonight to 6pm Thursday, Fiordland south of George Sound from 4am to 9pm today, Tasman west of Motueka and the Bryant and Richmond Ranges from 6am Thursday to 6am Friday, Southland and Clutha from 6am Thursday to 3am Friday and the Buller District south of Seddonville from 9am Thursday to 3am Friday.
Strong wind watches are in place for the Canterbury high country from 12pm today to 2pm tomorrow, and Fiordland from 9am-6pm today.
"While it starts off on the West Coast, keep an eye on the forecast wherever you are across New Zealand."
Wet weather and strong winds will move across the North Island on Thursday, Law said.
"As this band of wet weather moves across the country from west to east, there will be some pretty intense bursts of rain from that back edge, perhaps some thunderstorms on Thursday afternoon into Friday."
He said it would be a "pretty warm week" with minimum temperatures of 17 and 18C.
"At least there's something there," he said.
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