ATTENTION NEWS STAFF
Issued at 02:08pm 01-Sep-2008
An Amazing Half A Metre Of Rain Likely In Three Days
MetService forecasters advise that heavy rain on the ranges on the South Island West Coast ranges could total in excess
of 500 mm this week.
"An active front with intense northwesterly winds is expected to linger over the South Island for several days",
commented MetService Weather Ambassador, Bob McDavitt. "The movement of this front is blocked by an intense anticyclone
lying to the east of New Zealand. This anticyclone is extremely unusual - today, the barometric pressure reading at
Chatham Islands reached an all time high of 1044 hectoPascals."
In southern Westland, a prolonged period of heavy rain between Tuesday and Thursday may produce in excess of 500 mm in
the mountains. A good proportion of this rain may spill over onto the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps, meaning those
who are planning to camp near Canterbury and Otago rivers and collect whitebait will find quickly rising river levels.
Besides the rain on the West Coast, people in Canterbury, Otago, and Southland are also advised that windy
northwesterlies are likely to reach a strength that may damage trees, power lines and insecure structures at times today
in some exposed inland places.
People in these areas should keep up to date with the latest MetService weather forecasts and warnings.
ENDS