MetService has issued a Heavy Rain Warning (Orange) for Tasman District west of Motueka for a 24-hour period from 8pm tonight to 8pm tomorrow night. A Weather Watch (Yellow) has also been issued for the 6 hour period commencing 9am today for the Nelson side of the Richmond range. 

The Heavy Rain Warning is at the lower end of the scale. The heaviest rain is expected to tomorrow morning along the ranges around Golden Bay. Totals of 130 to 180 mm are forecast with peak rates of 15 to 25 mm/h tomorrow morning. Rain is expected to slow near midnight with showers forecast through Thursday morning.

For the Aorere, Tākaka, Riuwaka and Motueka catchments, forecast flows are expected to remain below annual flood levels. For the remainder of the district, main rivers are expected to rise only slightly and also remain well below annual flood levels. No thunderstorm activity is forecast, but as always, if there are localised bursts of heavier rain, this could still produce rapid, short-lived rises in small streams and drains.

Rainfall totals and intensities are modest and are not expected to trigger widespread landslips. Tides are relatively low and no storm surge is expected.  Winds are from the southeast and will be strong in exposed places. 

Therefore, based on the current rainfall forecast, we do not have concerns at this stage. However, if flooding does have severe consequences for you, please take a prudent approach and allow for the possibility of higher flows than currently forecast.

Links for more information: