Forecast today
Isolated morning showers, otherwise fine. High of 21C. Isolated morning showers, otherwise fine. 21C. out. 23C. Fine. Westerlies dying Fine spells, a few morning showers. 17C. Mainly fine, chance of evening shower. 17C. Fine, but some cloud and odd shower. Light winds. 15C. Island and strong gusts to the south of the North Island.
State Highway 73 through Arthur’s Pass was closed because of substantial slips.
One of the landslides spilled into the Taramakau River; blocking access to Jacksons and Aickens.
In nearby Otira, a woman and her son had a lucky escape after a slip spilled on to their house.
The landslide moved a shed, ruined a car and diverted a creek into the house but the pair were uninjured.
On Wednesday night, a Swedish couple were swept down a flooded Canterbury river while out tramping.
The man was able to get to the water’s edge of Hawdon River, but his partner became stranded on an island in the middle of the river. Authorities credited an emergency locator beacon with saving her life.
MetService recorded wind gusts of A huge slip blocks State Highway 73 at Jacksons on the West Coast of the South Island following heavy rains. Below left: Unseasonal snow falls on the Cardrona skifield during a blast from the polar regions and (right) cruise ship passengers battle the elements during a visit to Dunedin yesterday morning. up to 154km/h at Rimutaka Summit, 118km/h at Wellington Airport, 172km/ h near Mt Hutt and 124km/h in Banks Peninsula.
More than 250mm of rain fell at Arthur’s Pass and up to 209 lightning strikes have been recorded over Westland since Wednesday evening.
MetService said another significant low pressure system would move east across the South Island on Sunday.
“During Saturday, there is moderate confidence of significant heavy rain from Marlborough Sounds to South Westland, rising to high on Sunday.” There was the possibility of significant spillover into the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers on Sunday.
Many places, including eastern Otago, the Tararua Range and the North Island high country from Mt Taranaki to the ranges of eastern Bay of Plenty could be in for rainfall amounts that would meet warning criteria, MetService said.
Severe gale warnings were also likely in the Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough on Sunday.