Significant heavy rain is now due to hit Westland on Sunday, following MetService’s previous orange warning from Thursday morning.
The heavy rain bursts will begin from midnight on Saturday and last until 9pm on Sunday, impacting Fiordland, north of Doubtful Sound, and Westland south of Hokitika, centering around Franz Josef and Fox Glacier.
A MetService spokesperson said on Friday they were highly confident the rainfall amount would reach their warning of 200mm to 300 mm on the ranges, and 100mm to 150 mm near the coast.
Westland can expect peak rates of 20 to 30mm an hour from late Sunday morning, and potential thunderstorms.
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Christel Yardley/Stuff
MetsService updated Westland’s heavy rain warning, with significant bursts of heavy rain expected to hit on Sunday. (File photo)
The West Coast has been preparing for the heavy rain warning since Thursday.
Grey District Council staff cleared gutters and asked residents to check their gutters, downpipes and drains were clear, outdoor furniture stored and animals moved from potential flood zones.
Grey District Council/Stuff
Grey District Council cleared gutters to minimise the impacts of large expected rainfall when MetService first issued the orange warning.
MetServices’ orange heavy rain warning means stream and river levels may rise and a risk of surface flooding and slips. Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency advised drivers to be cautious and check weather alerts before travelling.
The weather watch for the West Coast comes after states of emergency were declared in Auckland on Friday and Northland on Tuesday.
Four people were killed in Auckland, and hundreds had to be rescued from their homes, workplaces and cars as they were trapped by floodwater, slips, fallen trees and water.
