NEW SEVERE WEATHER WARNING

[Te Puke Weather]

NEW SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
 
14-Sep-2012 URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST IN: Westland, Fiordland, Southland, Otago, Nelson, Bay Of Plenty Rotorua, Canterbury
 
 
 
FURTHER HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHERN FIORDLAND AND SOUTHERN WESTLAND UNTIL SATURDAY AFTERNOON, WITH SIGNIFICANT FALLS FOR NORTHERN SOUTHLAND AND THE OTAGO HEADWATERS. HEAVY RAIN FOR NORTHWEST NELSON AND EASTERN BAY OF PLENTY DURING THE WEEKEND.
 
A frontal rainband is expected to remain slow moving over northern Fiordland and southern Westland through to Saturday afternoon, bringing further heavy rain to these areas, with significant falls for northern Southland and the Otago headwaters. Another 100 to 200mm is possible in parts of northern Fiordland and southern Westland, especially about Mount Aspiring National Park. Note, the rain may turn to heavy, wet snow for a time overnight Friday and early Saturday about northern parts of Southland up to the southern Otago Lakes, including the Fiordland Lakes and a Watch for heavy snow is in force for these areas.
 
Bursts of heavy rain are also expected about the ranges of northwest Nelson from Saturday afternoon through to Sunday afternoon, both with the northern portion of the front as it sweeps across central New Zealand and with bands of rain or heavy showers behind the front.
 
Finally, a more sustained period of heavy rain is forecast about eastern Bay of Plenty from Saturday evening through to Sunday night, with 120 to 180mm likely about the ranges east of Whakatane and 50 to 80mm nearer the coast. People in all these areas should look out for rapidly rising rivers and streams and also possible surface flooding and slips.
 
Note, the winds over inland Canterbury should continue to ease tonight and no further severe gales are expected, the warning is therefore lifted.
 
FOR THE LATEST WEATHER AND FORECAST CHARTS PLEASE GO TO http://metservice.com MORE DETAILED INFORMATION FOR EMERGENCY MANAGERS AND TECHNICAL USERS FOLLOWS.
 
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HEAVY RAIN WARNING
 
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AREA/S AFFECTED: NORTHERN FIORDLAND AND SOUTHERN WESTLAND BETWEEN MILFORD SOUND AND HARIHARI
 
FORECAST:
 
Further heavy rain is expected through to Saturday afternoon. In the
 
18 hours from 9pm Friday to 3pm Saturday, expect a further 100mm in the ranges on top of what has already fallen, but possibly 200mm about the western side of Mount Aspiring National Park. During the same time, expect 50 to 80mm in some coastal places. Rainfall rates could reach 15 to 25mm/hr about the ranges until late Saturday morning.
 
FREEZING LEVEL: about 1600 metres.
 
AREA/S AFFECTED: THE HILLS AND RANGES OF NORTHERN SOUTHLAND NORTH OF LUMSDEN INCLUDING THE TAKITIMU MOUNTAINS
 
FORECAST:
 
Further steady rain is forecast through to about midday Saturday. In the 15 hours from 9pm Friday to midday Saturday, expect a further 30 to 60mm of rain on top of what has already fallen.
 
FREEZING LEVEL: about 1000 metres, but possibly lowering significantly more for a time overnight Friday.
 
AREA/S AFFECTED: THE HEADWATERS OF THE OTAGO LAKES AND RIVERS
 
FORECAST:
 
Further heavy rain is expected through to Saturday afternoon. In the
 
18 hours from 9pm Friday to 3pm Saturday, expect a further 100 to 150mm about the Divide, with over 60mm within 20km east of the Divide. Note, significant rainfall is also possible right across the Southern Lakes region into western parts of Central Otago and a Watch is in force for this area.
 
FREEZING LEVEL: about 1500 metres, but possibly lowering significantly lower in the south for a time overnight.
 
AREA/S AFFECTED: THE RANGES OF NORTHWEST NELSON WEST OF MOTUEKA
 
FORECAST:
 
Bursts of heavy rain are expected from Saturday afternoon. In the 24 hours from midday Saturday to midday Sunday, expect 80 to 120mm of rain. Heaviest falls of around 15mm/hr are likely with the front Saturday afternoon, also in convective bands of rain or showers following the front.
 
FREEZING LEVEL: about 1800 metres.
 
AREA/S AFFECTED: BAY OF PLENTY EAST OF WHAKATANE
 
FORECAST:
 
Rain is expected to become heavy Saturday evening and persist through much of Sunday. In the 28 hours from 8pm Saturday to midnight Sunday, expect 120 to 180mm of rain about the ranges, with 50 to 80mm possible near the coast. Heaviest falls during Sunday could reach 20mm/hr about the ranges.
 
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WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE
 
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HEAVY RAIN WARNINGS HAVE BEEN LIFTED FOR: FIORDLAND SOUTH OF MILFORD SOUND No further heavy falls are expected.
 
STRONG WIND WARNINGS HAVE BEEN LIFTED FOR: INLAND PARTS OF CANTERBURY, ESPECIALLY THE HIGH COUNTRY AND MACKENZIE BASIN The winds should continue to ease tonight and are no longer expected to reach severe gale.
 
NEXT SEVERE WEATHER WARNING WILL BE ISSUED AT OR BEFORE 9:00am Saturday 15-Sep-2012

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