Weather: Heavy rain warnings, snow, wind forecast

Weather warnings have been updgraded for parts of the South Island after a wet and windy night caused power outages and road disruptions in Coromandel.

Power was out to 100 homes in Whitianga, a tree had blocked State Highway 25, and there was minor flooding and debris on other roads in the Coromandel.

Thames-Coromandel District Council said 100mm of rain fell across the peninsula overnight, and it was still raining at 7am.

With high tide at 8.30am, all streams and rivers would be running high until later in the morning, the council said.

"Take extreme care if travelling or walking the dog this morning," the council advised.

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Power Co said overnight more than 1273 properties were without power after a large tree fell on a power line due to the wind.

About 100 homes in Whitianga remained without power on Thursday morning, with reports of surface flooding and debris on roads in the area, a tree was blocking SH25 at Kūaotunu.

Thames Coromandel civil defence controller Gary Towler told Morning Report the rain and wind had caused "minor" issues.

"It was a good overnight delgue, 100mm of rain is normal for Coromandel, but it was testy.

"Typical spring for us."

He said the rebuild done after Cyclone Gabrielle meant things were more resiliant than they were and there wasn't the "carnage" there may have been in the past.

Towler said power was expected to be back mid-morning.

There were "debris around the (roading) network" and drivers should take care, he said.

'Two months of rain' coming for Otago

Meanwhille, MetService has upgraded its warning for North Otago, Dunedin and coastal Clutha, saying the conditions will disrupt travel, make some roads impassable, and isolate communities.

Peak rates of eight to 15 millimetres of rain were predicted.

The heavy red rain warning was in place between 11am on Thursday and 9pm on Friday .

In the afternoon, up to two months' worth of rainfall could hit in parts of the South Island, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) said earlier.

NIWA forecaster Seth Carrier said Thursday would see "a plume of moisture coming down from the north", carrying heavy rain that could impact the Bay of Plenty and East Cape, before the heavier rain crops up in the South Island.

Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said they were prepared for the rain.

"The rain overnight was not too bad, there are crews on stand by for later this afternoon, they were stood down last night.

"From midday today until midday tomorrow is the danger period and there are some spots with quite high rainfall predicted."

A localised downpour could cause problems, but drains were cleared, Radich said

There was a sand bag centre in town if people felt they needed them, he told Morning Report.

"We're as ready as we can be.

"I don't think our rivers will have too much trouble with this, speaking optimistically."

Rain elsewhere too

After a night of heavy rain in much of the country, Thursday was promising another day of severe weather with thunderstorms, wind and snow forecast.

Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty had the worst of the weather overnight, MetService Duty forecaster Heath Gullery said.

Taranki had had 100-150mm of rain, and Tasman received up to 250mm in some areas.

MetService meteorologist John Law told Morning Report the "band of rain" was likely to be stuck over the country for a few days.

The wet weather had been taking its time moving on from Coromandel and Bay of Plenty but in general things would clear up in the North Island during Thursday, he said.

However things would ramp up in the southeast of the South Island, Law said.

"It's an incredibly wet situation down across the likes of Otago."

He said there were "plenty of severe weather watches and warnings" nationwide and it was likely to remain wet over the weekend. Northland, Auckland, and Waikato should expect more showers then.

Warnings and watches

The MetService has issued updated warnings and watches on Thursday morning.

North Otago, Dunedin and coastal Clutha were under a red heavy rain warning until 9pm on Friday.

Inland Clutha and Southland were under heavy rain watches.

Orange heavy rain warnings were in place for Bay of Plenty, and Tai Rāwhiti north of Ruatoria

A strong wind watch was in place for Bay of Plenty, northern Tai Rāwhiti, and Fiordland in areas near the fiords.

There was a road snowfall warning for Lindis Pass (SH8) and Crown Range Road.