Heavy rain forecast for lower South Island
Rain is expected to fall heavily in the west of the lower South Island on Monday and early on Tuesday, the MetService has warned. The rain is forecast to arrive in an active front from the Tasman Sea on Monday morning. The front will be followed by a cold southwest change. Parts of the West Coast, areas around the main divide, and the South Canterbury and Otago headwaters are expected to be affected. MetService is advising people to keep up to date with the latest forecasts. READ MORE: * 'It will be extensive and expensive': Civil Defence surveys Northland's clean-up job after flooding and slips * Northland businesses begin clean up after floods wash out shops * More rain in West Coast set to cause flooding and road closures * Torrential rain causes chaos on the West Coast Between 120 millimetres and 180mm of rain is forecast for Westland south of Harihari. Heavy rain is expected to start in the Canterbury headwaters south of the Rakaia River about 9am on Monday, and in the Otago headwaters about 11am. It is expected to continue until about 6am Tuesday. In Fiordland north of Doubtful Sound, heavy rain is forecast from 11am Monday until 4am Tuesday, with thunderstorms and downpours possible from Monday afternoon.