22 Mar 2016

Rain, wind to bring flooding and slips

8:22 pm on 22 March 2016

Meteorologists are warning of flooding and slips, with heavy rain and strong winds forecast for the next few days as a low-pressure system passes over the country.

MetService has issued a heavy rain warning for Marlborough, Nelson, Buller and Westland, Mt Taranaki and Northland from tomorrow morning.

It has issued a strong wind warning for Northland and Auckland, with winds likely to reach up to 130km/hr.

Rain in the worst-affected areas was likely to reach 150mm and could top 200mm.

Meteorologist Angus Hines said it was set to be a busy few days in terms of weather.

"There could be some pretty heavy localised rainfall rates of up to 25mm an hour, again over large parts of the country," he said.

"With that sort of rainfall rate, you're definitely looking at slips and surface flooding and, potentially, very quick-rising rivers."

The bad weather should clear by Friday morning, Mr Hines said.