UPDATED

A deepening low is forecast to move over Fiordland and Southland on Sunday bringing heavy rain in many western areas as far north as Taranaki and gale force north to northwest winds over central and southern New Zealand.

MetService has issued a Severe Weather Watch…

SEVERE WEATHER WATCH FOR RICHMOND RANGE MARLBOROUGH SOUNDS TARARUA RANGES AND HILLS FROM HUTT VALLEY TO KAPITI COAST ALSO MT TARANAKI ISSUED BY METSERVICE AT 1237hrs 30-Jul-2010 SPELL OF HEAVY RAIN AND NORTH TO NORTHWEST GALES EXPECTED OVER CENTRAL NEW ZEALAND ON SUNDAY.

The watch for heavy rain on the West Coast of the South Island and spillover into Otago and Canterbury headwaters from Saturday evening has been upgraded to a warning.

The watch for possible severe gales from Canterbury to Wairarapa including Wellington has also been upgraded to a warning A watch for heavy rain has been extended to the Richmond Range, Marlborough Sounds, Tararua Ranges and hills from Hutt Valley to Kapiti Coast also for Mt Taranaki from Sunday afternoon until early Sunday morning. North to northwest gales are likely in these areas also but probably not severe except about high ground.