Cyclone Gita approaches fast today with its centre moving over the upper South Island later this evening / overnight.

Gita moves over the upper South Island later in the evening today. With this very tightly packed and deep low comes very strong winds and very heavy rain for central parts of the country.

The heaviest and most torrential falls looks to be for the east of the South Island Canterbury northwards and especially about Nelson and Marlborough then easing overnight. Conditions in terms of wind and rain ramps up from afternoon as the low moves in, evening will see the most intense period with this low then easing overnight.

Just a note that very heavy snow is looking likely above 1000m in South and Mid Canterbury afternoon onwards today, for northern North Canterbury this level will be above 1400m.

A few showers for western parts of the North Island on Wednesday, more likely Taranaki southwards but a few are possible further north mainly in the afternoon. Any early showers clear Bay Of Plenty then mostly sunny. Rain or showers for most South Island regions, rain may be heavy first thing for inland areas in the east then gradually easing.

By Weather Analyst Aaron Wilkinson – WeatherWatch.co.nz