Rain and showers are today starting to move into a number of regions, with social media lighting up as farmers and growers desperate for rain finally get some. 

As of 8am rain was falling across a number of western areas – and across the next day or two more rain is coming.

Some of the rain will be locally very heavy – fuelled by moisture rich sub-tropical air and slowed down by both our hills and ranges but also a very large blocking high to the east of the country.

Not everyone will get a drenching though – some parts of the east, which are fairly dry, may only get a few spits or one brief period of rain. It’s possible downpours in the west and north west may cause localised flooding. Government  forecaster MetService has issued further rain warnings for today, extending them into the North Island too.

Below are the rain maps for the following few days…areas in red show the heaviest downpours.

CURRENT RAIN MAP – WEDS AM

MIDNIGHT TONIGHT

1pm THURS

1pm FRI

– Maps by Weathermap.co.nz

– WeatherWatch.co.nz