30 Jul 2012

Wet weather for many parts of the country

8:24 am on 30 July 2012

Bad weatherhas arrived in the north and east of the North Island and MetService is issuing warnings for other areas.

People are being warned to be aware of rising river levels, flooding and slips.

MetService is warning people in the South Island, especially in Canterbury and Otago, to expect heavy rain and strong winds throughout the week.

South-easterlies are forecast to rise to severe gales in exposed parts of Fiordland on Monday afternoon with gusts of about 130km/h.

Strong winds are also forecast from Northland to East Cape.

Heavy rain has affected Coromandel on Monday and was spreading to Bay of Plenty and East Cape, as well as Taranaki and the top of the South Island.

MetService says although the winds and rain will ease, the wet weather is set to stay until the weekend.