Snow followed by Rain - Wednesday's Forecast for the South 27th May.

[JennyLeez]

 SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR WESTLAND, BULLER, CANTERBURY, MARLBOROUGH, WELLINGTON, WAIRARAPA

ISSUED BY METSERVICE AT 1017hrs 27-May-2014

HEAVY RAIN AND NORTHWEST GALES ABOUT PARTS OF SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND LATE WEDNESDAY AND EARLY THURSDAY.

A broad trough, in which a series of fronts are embedded, is forecast to approach southern New Zealand Wednesday afternoon, then move eastwards over the country during Thursday. Strong to gale northwesterlies precede the initial front, with rain expected about western areas, spreading into the Otago and Canterbury Headwaters for a time.

A heavy rain warning is now in force for the Fiordland and Westland Ranges, and the Otago and Canterbury Headwaters. There is also a strong wind warning in force for Fiordland, Southland, Otago and the Canterbury High Country.

This Watch is for the possibility of rain accumulations approaching warning amounts about remaining parts of Westland and about the ranges of Buller during Thursday (from early morning until the afternoon).

In addition, this Watch is also for the possibility that northwest gales could become severe for a time about remaining parts of Canterbury from late Wednesday afternoon until Thursday morning, then about eastern parts of Marlborough, also Wellington and Wairarapa from Wednesday night until late Thursday afternoon.

• Tweet