A large low is crossing NZ pushing rain into Canterbury, snow in the mountains and downpours for the north of NZ.

Generally speaking most parts of NZ actually don’t have severe weather – but exceptional rainfall totals are still expected in the eastern South Island (Canterbury). Check your local rainfall totals at WeatherWatch or RuralWeather – some in Canterbury are quite significant.

#3PM: Heavy rain will continue tonight across a large portion of #Canterbury, with a wet Monday likely too.

You can see updated rainfall totals for your specific part of Canterbury (or any part of NZ) at https://t.co/eveWdQiaoB.

Still big totals inland between now & midnight. pic.twitter.com/JVkKYbj4mA

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) May 30, 2021

#Timaru now added to the state of emergency list as rivers continue to rise and rain continues to fall across #Canterbury. https://t.co/vETJJGSAzG

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) May 30, 2021

What's causing the flooding in #Canterbury today?

It's the combination of a few things, with the very large low orchestrating it all and the Southern Alps contributing to higher rainfall totals in the east.https://t.co/Pm2OWgtJRf #Flood #weather #NewZealand pic.twitter.com/24nNPkaURL

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) May 30, 2021

#UPDATE: As we head into Sunday afternoon #rain will continue across #Canterbury with heavy falls. While the amount per hour does reduce gradually as we head towards the end of the day, the #Flood risk may continue to increase.

See these graphs/details at https://t.co/eveWdQiaoB pic.twitter.com/DJQNYeWk0b

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) May 29, 2021

#Flood waters may continue to rise even if the rain starts to ease today.

Please follow the advice below if in #Ashburton: https://t.co/h13Do37QKV

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) May 29, 2021

For example, Mount Somers has 160mm forecast for today only.

Darfield and Ashburton have just over 100mm forecast for today.

Christchurch has a much lower total of 34mm for today.

The most up to date information (like rainfall, temperatures and wind speeds/direction) can be found in your LOCAL forecast at WeatherWatch.co.nz or RuralWeather.co.nz – IBM crunches NZ and global data hourly.

Heavy rain is expected to continue in Canterbury with flooding and slips possible. Snow will be heavy in the mountains and ranges – over 1 metre possible before Tuesday.

A few isolated thunderstorms will affect the North Island with a few heavy falls.

We’ll have an even more detailed forecast again by mid morning as we crunch the very latest data and bring you more detailed maps to help explain the next 48 hours.

In the meantime, many maps and extra details can be found in our MAPS section.

Full list of current/active Watches and Warnings from MetService: https://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/maps-radars/warnings/metservice

Thunderstorm Risk today: https://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/maps-radars/lightning/thunderstorm-risk

MetService Thunderstorm Outlook: https://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/maps-radars/lightning/thunderstorm-outlook

RECAP:

• A huge low pressure system will be almost stagnant centred over the North island before starting to move away to the east on Monday night.
• Situated on the southern flank of the low, Canterbury will get the brunt of continuous moisture-laden easterly winds; rain totals on Sunday could lift up to 200 mm or more in the High country and Foothills.
• MetService has issued a Red warning for heavy rain for Canterbury
• Residents should be ready for the possibility of communities being isolated due to flooding on roads and disruption of municipal services like water and electricity.
• Snow accumulation reaching 100 cm is likely in some spots at higher reaches on Sunday.
• Gusty winds with up to 120 km/h are likely across the southwest corner and along Southern Alps until lunchtime on Monday, 80 km/h around the Capital on Tuesday.
• High wave conditions reaching 5 – 6 m is likely along both north end and south end of the country until Monday