A severe weather warning has been issued for the South Island as heavy rain and strong winds bear down on the country. MetService forecast northwest gales up to 130kmh across Fiordland and Southland from late Monday night, expected to hit Otago from early Tuesday morning. They warned the winds could exceed 130kmh around inland Canterbury, particularly about the high country, on Tuesday. "A period of heavy, thundering rain," up to 200mm, was expected to hit Fiordland early on Tuesday morning. Thunderstorms and rain up to 300mm was forecast for Westland south of Harihari from early Tuesday, and early Wednesday morning in the ranges between Harihari and Otira.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 30, 2017 01:10 UTC