Heavy rain and strong winds that battered parts of the South Island over the past two days are expected to shift north as New Zealand heads into the final weekend of winter.
According to a report by Stuff, the severe weather has already disrupted parts of Otago. More than 20 slips were reported along State Highway 6 between Makarora and Lake Hāwea on Friday, temporarily trapping two vehicles and their occupants. They were later rescued.
The slips followed heavy rainfall from a winter storm, with water and debris flowing down hillsides and onto the highway.
In Queenstown, 45 people were also evacuated and moved into temporary accommodation after homes were flooded, as reported by Stuff.
Looking ahead, MetService meteorologist Samkelo Magwala said the weekend would bring a series of fast-moving fronts, with the northern and eastern parts of the North Island potentially seeing heavy rain.
According to Stuff, a heavy rain watch is expected to be in place across the upper North Island from 4 am Saturday until 10 pm as a low-pressure system develops along a front moving north.
Auckland, Great Barrier Island and the Coromandel Peninsula are forecast to receive rain from 9 am Saturday through to midnight.
In the Bay of Plenty, heavy rain is expected from Saturday afternoon, easing around midnight but potentially continuing until 3 am Sunday east of the Rangitaiki River, as reported by Stuff.
Strong winds are also forecast, with northwesterlies expected through Cook Strait and stronger westerly winds over the Canterbury High Country.
MetService meteorologists said they were not particularly concerned about the cold front moving in from the southwest. However, their attention was focused on a low-pressure system developing in the northwest and the associated fronts expected to cross the North Island from Saturday, Stuff has reported.
People in affected areas have been warned to prepare for prolonged periods of rain, including the possibility of intense downpours.
MetService said some weather watches could be upgraded to warnings through Sunday.
A southwest flow is expected to bring cooler air across the country on Sunday, pushing temperatures down, as reported by Stuff.
In the North Island, isolated showers are forecast as the cooler air moves in. Westerly winds could strengthen to gale force in Wairarapa and southern Hawke’s Bay.
Western areas can expect a few showers, while conditions should remain mostly fine in the east, with rain clearing early.
The South Island will also see another cold front move in from the west.
“The western areas will get another period of rain, but nothing hectic at this stage,” Magwala said, Stuff has quoted.
Most other parts of the South Island should remain largely fine, although strong westerly winds could reach gale force in some areas.
The unsettled weather comes as New Zealand enters the last weekend of winter, with authorities urging people in areas under watches to stay alert to changing conditions, as reported by Stuff.