North Otago is on watch for heavy rain from ex-tropical cyclone Gita and MetService says the effects of the storm could be felt even further south.
Gita is the category-three cyclone that lashed Tonga last week and has now turned towards New Zealand.
Early tracking models had the remnants of Gita aiming for Wellington, Cook Strait and the upper South Island. But the latest models show the cyclone making landfall squarely on the South Island.
Heavy rainfall and violent winds are expected across the northern South Island tomorrow night, followed by heavy rain in the central South Island.
MetService duty forecaster Claire Flynn said yesterday the only area in the southern region on watch for heavy rain was North Otago.
The watch was in place from 4pm tomorrow to 4pm on Wednesday, when there could be rain of up to "warning criteria" of 100mm in 24 hours.
There were no "watch" areas for severe gales in Otago.
It was expected the centre of the cyclone would track over the upper South Island, but if it "wobbles a little bit further south" it could bring heavy rain with it.
Watches were issued when an event was two or three days out and could change to warnings as the situation became clearer.
The forecast for Dunedin and Central Otago was for periods of rain on Wednesday, from the storm’s cloud sheets.
