A series of fronts moving over the North and South Islands have meant wet weather and gale force winds battered much of the country this weekend.
Today is forecast to bring much of the same, with severe weather watches remaining in place for many parts of the South Island.
The rest of the weekend will be reasonably wet in Auckland, with showers set to continue tomorrow and Tuesday.
MetService has a severe weather watch in place for heavy rain and severe gale west to northwest winds for many parts of the South Island today and tomorrow.
A strong wind watch is in place for the West Coast from Fiordland to Buller as well as Otago and Southland including Stewart Island.
The New Zealand Transport Agency said extra care was required for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles in Otago due to the strong winds.
In Dunedin there have been reports of a tree falling and blocking a street in Brockville and power lines being affected in North Taieri.
Dunedin Airport cancelled a flight from Christchurch meant to arrive at 2.40pm resulting in the cancellation of the return flight as well.
Delta staff are repairing a downed power line after it became detached from a pole in Highcliff Rd this afternoon.
The heaviest rain is expected in the ranges of Westland and Buller north of Otira and a warning is in place for these areas.
MetService meteorologist Andrew James said the pattern would continue through the weekend, with more fronts bringing rain mainly to the west, while the east coast of both islands should remain a little drier.
A southwesterly flow of wind meant temperatures would stay low in the south for the next few days, James said.
Aucklanders got a shock to the system on Friday when the unseasonably warm May temperatures dropped suddenly.
Today's outlook
- Auckland: Fine spells. A few showers, mainly in the evening. Westerlies. 19C high, 13C overnight.
- Hamilton: Fine spells but chance of showers. Westerlies. 18degC and 10degC.
- Tauranga: Mainly fine, but a chance of a shower or two from afternoon. Westerlies. 18degC and 12degC.
- Wellington: Mainly fine, but a few showers at night. Northwesterlies rising to gale in exposed places in the afternoon. 16degC and 12degC.
- Christchurch: High cloud, but a brief period of evening rain. Northwesterlies strengthening. High of 17degC and an overnight of 7degC .
- Dunedin: High cloud, late afternoon rain then showers. Northerlies strengthening, changing strong southwest at night. High of 16degC and overnight of 5degC.
