Reports are now coming in of damage from around the country. 

The heaviest rain fell over western and northern parts of the South Island but heavy falls were also recorded on Mt Taranaki and other northern and western regions.

Over 300mm of rain was recorded on Mt Taranaki but much lower amounts near sea level with 61 in Stratford and just 35mm in New Plymouth.

But heavy rain caused major headaches for the upper South Island. 

The NZ Herald reports that the Matai river in Nelson came within a hairsbreadth of bursting its banks and flooding parts of the city.  The river was sand banked as a precaution. 

Several roads around Nelson and Marlborough were closed yesterday and last night because of the rain.

A comment posted to weatherwatch.co.nz by Peter M of Mahau Sound in the Marlborough Sounds says 159mm of rain fell in just 24 hours.

As expected by the Weather Watch Centre the winds weren’t really a major feature of this system but still caused some problems in the northern North Island.  A tree fell on an Auckland home while gales brought down trees closing roads in Northland.

Comments posted to weatherwatch.co.nz describes a noisy night from east Auckland up to Northland as winds rose to gale force at times.

The winds rose to gale force in Kaikoura for a time last night but most eastern parts of the South Island had a hot night with many centres still in the mid 20s at 10pm.

The heavy rain has missed the areas that needed it most – eastern areas of both islands.   As predicted by the Weather Watch Centre back in early September a ‘neutral’ spring (with no La Nina or El Nino weather pattern) meant the prevailing westerlies would dry out farms in the east.

We’ll have more details on the dry conditions in the east soon.