Rain and more rain forecast for region
The wet weather in Nelson has settled in for the long haul bringing a sigh of relief from fire services - for now.
The Metservice 10 day forecast has only a short respite from the rain predicted and for some parts of the region, the worst is yet to come.
Metservice meteorologist Tom Adams attributed the bad weather to a slow moving low pressure system moving to the west of the country.
‘‘The thing when you get weather systems that are slow moving is that rainfall can add up ... hour after hour the rainfall keeps building up.’’
He said there was currently a weather warning out for the Nelson region west of Motueka for 100mm to 120mm of rain between midday Friday and midday today.
Thunderstorms were predicted for the region, he said, with a chance last night and a ‘‘moderate risk’’ of a thunderstorm today.
Showers were expected to clear by tomorrow with ‘‘a few sunny spells’’.
By Monday evening the whole region should have cleared up, but Tuesday brings more rain, continuing into Wednesday with a chance of gale force winds.
‘‘If you’re picking a day to hang your washing out, wait until it clears on Sunday or first thing Monday’’, Adams said.
Dry conditions during the Christmas period caused extreme fire risk but the rainfall has turned that around.
Principal rural fire officer Ian Reade said the risk was now reduced.
‘‘We’ve had quite a bit of rain over a fairly extended period of time since before the new year and we’ve had quite a bit of green up.’’
Average rainfall in the Tasman Nelson region was more than 90mm over the last seven days.
Founders Park recorded 77.9mm, the Tasman District Council office in Richmond recorded 116mm and Anatoki in Golden Bay recorded the highest figure at 150.5mm.
Reade said fire permits were being issued again but people were still being warned of the risks of dry grass on their property.
‘‘We’re enjoying the rain but when the rain stops and we start getting those hot sunny days again the risk we’ll have is the dead grass that’s still around from the dry period prior to Christmas. On a sunny day, that dry grass will burn and carry a fire.’’
But for those on annual leave or at home with the kids, hot sunny days sadly aren’t on the horizon.