Southlanders should ditch any thoughts of enjoying a sun-baked Christmas - but on a positive note the rain is expected to ease for the remainder of the year. Environment Southland issued a flood warning on Friday morning following a sustained period of rain across Southland, with the lower reaches of several Southland rivers reaching trigger levels. Brandolino also predicted a lack of warm weather in Southland for the remainder of the year. "Any warm temperatures [Southland] receive between now and the new year will be very limited," Brandolino said. Federated Farmers Southland president Geoffrey Young said the ongoing rain had been an issue for farmers for the last couple of months, particularly in western Southland.

Source: Stuff December 20, 2019 04:07 UTC