Weather in the South Island is expected to be very unstable this afternoon and evening, causing rain, showers and thunderstorms with localised downpours affecting many inland areas. A heavy rain watch is in place for Central Otago, North Otago, inland Dunedin and the Clutha from midday to midnight tonight. "Where there are steep and narrow catchments and alluvial fans, for example in and around Roxburgh and Middlemarch, localised severe downpours could trigger the mobilisation of sediments and debris. MetService said more rain could be expected today for inland Canterbury, south of Fairlie, as well as Central Otago, North Otago, inland Dunedin, Clutha and also Southland, north of Gore. Thunderstorms about the Canterbury foothills, inland parts of South Canterbury, Otago, northern Southland and inland Fiordland could be severe, producing localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm per hour.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 06, 2021 18:45 UTC