Today is the first day of spring but the winter is to continue in the South Island at least, with heavy rain forecast.
Electricity supply contractors had to restore power tonight to the Glenorchy area after strong winds felled trees across electricity lines.
Delta Central Otago distribution manager Richard Morris said power to the area was cut-off at 7.42pm after a "huge tree came down across the line''. Power was restored at 9.58pm.
Works Infrastructure staff were also working in the Bobs Cove area, to clear a large tree which had blocked access on the Queenstown-Glenorchy Rd, he said.
The tree has been removed and the road is now clear.
The MetService today forecast heavy rain on the West Coast and warned campers and whitebaiters in Canterbury and Otago of quickly rising river levels.
Spokesman Bob McDavitt said 500mm of rain was expected to fall in the West Coast ranges this week.
"An active front with intense northwesterly winds is expected to linger over the South Island for several days.
"A good proportion of this rain may spill over onto the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps."
He said Canterbury, Otago and Southland were likely to get strong northwesterlies which may cause damage to trees, power lines and insecure structures. - with NZPA
