Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to hit western parts of the South Island tomorrow.
Photo: 123RF
MetService says a front over the far south is slowly moving northwards.
It says the heaviest falls are expected in Fiordland and Westland from Milford Sound to Fox Glacier.
A further 60mm to 90mm of rain can be expected on top of what has already fallen, especially about the ranges.
MetService is warning that rainfall may surface flooding and slips as well as cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Motorists in the area are also being warned that driving conditions may be hazardous.
The warnings are in place until tomorrow morning.
A heavy rain watch is also in place for the remainder of Fiordland north of Doubtful Sound, the remainder of Westland south of Harihari and the Otago headwaters.
Significant smoke drifts over from Australian bushfires
Earlier today, residents in South Island reported waking up to yellow skies as a result of the smoke from the ongoing Australian bushfires.
NIWA said much of the smoke will move away from the South Island by tomorrow, although lower concentrations may be observed across the North Island.
Weatherwatch said it was normal for New Zealand to get some smoke from Australia, but that this significant thick wave of smoke was 'almost unprecedented' for New Zealand.
Happy New Year. Orange sky this morning in Dunedin. Caused by smoke from Australian bushfires. pic.twitter.com/a6L27lkKfQ
— Benedikt Holtmann (@BeneHoltmann) December 31, 2019
Super orange sun & a hazy horizon here in Nelson, New Zealand caused by the Australian bush fires. @WeatherWatchNZ #AustralianFires #AustraliaBurns pic.twitter.com/3BsfhWyMEf
— Sam James (@samjamesnz) January 1, 2020
Here are two pictures from the same vantage point in Ida Valley (Central Otago), earlier this week compared with today.
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) January 1, 2020
Much of the smoke will move away from the South Island by Thursday, although lower concentrations may be observed across the North Island.
: Erica Lawn pic.twitter.com/3uNaMJvwZf
So here’s a wee timelapse I took this morning from my house showing the weird sky caused by smoke from the Aussie bushfires as it passes over Portobello. Totally weird day in the Deep South! @MetService #weather #NewZealand pic.twitter.com/9y6TEMSIdk
— Ian Griffin (@iangriffin) January 1, 2020
"Smoke is so thick the skies have darkened significantly and people have lights on in the middle of the day," Weatherwatch said.
MetService said fresher air from the Southern Ocean could be expected by tomorrow when southwesterlies were expected to develop at all levels of the troposphere over the lower South Island.
