Flooding has closed a West Coast highway and the area has been hit by hundreds of lightning strikes as a prolonged spell of heavy rain hits much of the country. Click on image to watch videoAnd in New Plymouth all flights have been grounded due to problems caused by heavy fog and low visibility. Heavy rain warnings were in place for many of those areas through to tonight, with some spots expecting to receive up to 300mm of rain. “Heavy rain and severe gale winds make for dangerous conditions to travel in, both from Avalanche risk and exposure possibilities. "For the South Island's West Coast and Nelson, it is bringing some very heavy rain."

Source: Otago Daily Times November 07, 2018 21:00 UTC