Heavy rain is expected to set in to the South Island’s alpine regions Thursday afternoon as a cold front stalls over the region.  Philip Duncan, head weather analyst at the Radio Network’s Weather Watch Centre says it’s good news for the hydro lakes.  “Rain will develop on Thursday afternoon becoming heavier overnight.  The rain will gradually ease on Friday morning but several days of showers and snow by Sunday will follow”.

Rain should fall quite far eastwards too, great news for Central Otago farms still parched after an extremely dry summer.

“This certainly wont be enough to end any power fears but it is much needed and will help maintain or even slightly raise lake levels”.

Duncan says the same front will weaken considerably as it moves further north, reaching Auckland on Sunday.  Weather for the All Blacks game this Saturday night looks mainly dry at this stage with cloud thickening, north easterlies increasing and just a 20% chance of showers.