Rain is on the way for Christchurch and WeatherWatch.co.nz says this is a good opportunity to collect more water.

A cold front bringing rain and lower temperatures is currently heading towards Christchurch and will arrive overnight.

WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters say the system isn’t severe but will bring a significant drop in temperatures tomorrow and tomorrow night.

Friday’s high is predicted to be just 15 or 16 with the low dropping to just 7 or 8 overnight Friday and into Saturday.  Medical authorities say these low temperatures may lead to hyperthermic conditions for those who are still trapped.

The rain is predicted to be light to moderate but it should have some positive effects.  With water severely limited across the city WeatherWatch.co.nz advises people to try and capture as much rainwater as possible. 

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the easiest way capture the rain is to tap into downpipes from your roofs gutters, either buy collecting the water that comes out from the bottom, or by breaking the pipes higher up, in essence using it as a “running tap”.   

Collected rain could also be used in paddling pools or buckets so people could bathe once the sun and warmth returns on Saturday and heats the water up. 

Most standard houses have at least two downpipes and some have many more.

The cold southerly change will thankfully be short lived with warmer, sunnier and drier weather returning on Saturday and lasting until early next week at least.