Heavy rain and gales forecast for South Island on Monday

An active weather front has brought heavy rain and severe northwest gales across the South Island, with wind gusts reaching 168km/h at an exposed site in the Canterbury High Country. Rainfall reached 96mm overnight in Milford Sound. The system is expected to move northeast across the South Island on Monday before crossing the North Island on Tuesday.

The warm weather that preceded the front saw Christchurch reach a high of 28.7C on Saturday. Parts of the country approached 30C during the weekend. However, the calm conditions ended abruptly as the front moved in.

MetService issued orange heavy rain warnings for Westland, Fiordland, and the headwaters of Otago and Canterbury lakes and rivers. In Westland, rainfall could reach up to 350mm, while up to 300mm was expected around the Main Divide. Heavy rain was also forecast for the Grey and Buller districts.

Strong wind warnings and watches were issued for much of the South Island, including Otago, Fiordland, Southland, and Stewart Island. Gusts of up to 130km/h were forecast for exposed areas, while Castlepoint on the Wairarapa coast recorded a 130km/h gust on Monday morning. Wellington was also under an orange strong wind warning.

How it developed

• Mon 26 Oct, 8:08amA wind gust of 168km/h was recorded at an exposed site in the Canterbury High Country at 7am on Monday.

Where reports differ

• Reports vary on the maximum expected rainfall in Westland, with estimates ranging from 200-300mm to 350mm

Compiled from reports by NZ Herald, Otago Daily Times, Stuff, RNZ, The Press and 1News.