A cold front will hang over the lower South Island and produce heavy rainfall in Westland this weekend. Rain accumulation exceeding 150mm is expected in southern Westland until Sunday morning. Locally heavier amounts enhanced by topography are possible in the mountains.

Snow accumulation over the mountain ridges will occur but at a high elevation, above 1500m and
not significantly heavy.

Strong northwesterly wind crossing the Southern Alps with wind gusts in to gale force ares expected from Saturday evening to Sunday morning in western Canterbury highlands but will be calmer out on the plains.

Wnds will pick up around Cook Strait today too, gusty in Wellington later.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz – Proud to be an Official IBM/TWC Business Partner