Heavy rain watches are in place for much of New Zealand today, including North Otago, where rivers have started rising. In a release this morning the Otago Regional Council said rainfall combined with snowmelt and saturated ground may see rivers in North Otago reach the high flows that occurred earlier in the week. Meanwhile, many Kiwis will experience some wet and wild weather today, with thunderstorms and heavy rain forecast for the upper North Island and eastern South Island. Rain is forecast today from Northland to Otago, with only Southland, and in the afternoon Westland, expected to see much sun. MetService forecaster Ravi Kandula said that a heavy-rain "watch" was in place for North Otago from 9am to 6am tomorrow.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 24, 2018 21:00 UTC