FINAL UPDATE 8:20pm — Rain is coming to a gradual end in Christchurch this evening with a mix of light falls, drizzle and developing dry areas. While some briefly heavier rain/showers may still flare up the chances of concerning rainfall is now significantly starting to drop.

It’s very important to note the danger is not over in Christchurch with streams/rivers still flooding and the chance for further flooding in case of a localised heavier downpour. The next high tide will also bring some concerns overnight. 

The good news is that we expect much of the risk for further adverse weather to be over before midnight in Christchurch and this is why we’re now winding down our updates.

This concludes our 48 hours of rolling coverage. Many thanks to everyone who sent us photos, videos and updates on social media and here on our website/app.

Keep up to date with our forecasts, Civil Defence advice, MetService government weather warnings and state emergency details and remember, just because the weather is easing doesn’t mean the risk for dangerous flood waters has gone – it would be wise to consider the rest of tonight a danger to be near waterways.

Sunday looks considerable better in Canterbury and Otago but rivers and streams will remain dangerous for at least a couple of days.

Have a good night.

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 *Previous coverage*

5:20pm:
Christchurch City Council has declared a local state of emergency.

CANTERBURY:

#ForecastRainRadar for Canterbury shows current (left) & 9pm (right).#Christchurch forecast just been updated here: https://t.co/ZsVqKsPSCR pic.twitter.com/4hANrNfj3r

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) July 22, 2017

Several wastewater pump stations have been flooded so wastewater is overflowing into streets. Limit flushing, washing and showering for now.

— ChristchurchCDEM (@CDEMCHCH) July 21, 2017

In Canterbury rain is easing from the south and even around Christchurch shows signs of easing back as we head into evening – and the rain band slides north.

With the ground saturated further flooding is possible until rain eases to drizzle.

See our detailed Christchurch forecast here – with special updating across today and tonight.

Winds are also blustery in parts of Canterbury but will ease tonight.

Snow is possible on the Alpine Passes tonight too and may be heavy for a time.

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DUNEDIN:

Dry weather will continue to increase tonight but there’s still the chance of a shower.

Rain continued overnight for a large portion of Otago and Canterbury with some of the heaviest falls on Friday PM and in the early hours of this morning.  On Wednesday WeatherWatch.co.nz told Dunedin City Council to expect 150 to 200mm from this event. Today we’re seeing total numbers over 150mm in Dunedin.

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LOW NOW IN ‘DEATH SPIRAL’

The low is now in a death spiral – by that we mean it’s spinning and unravelling at the centre, creating a much larger centre as the air pressure rises. The low peaked in strength during Friday but by Sunday morning it will have mostly fallen apart.

Central air pressure in the low as of 10:30am Saturday was in the low 980hPa range after peaking in the lower 960hPa range on Friday afternoon near Banks Peninsula.

The low is currently centred over central NZ but has a large new much larger calm centre stretching and growing out to the east as this low unwinds. Now extending east of the Chatham Islands.

As we head into Sunday the giant spiralling winds of this enormous low will continue to spin off-kilter and this will basically see the low ‘kill itself off’ as the system shreds itself apart. It means conditions will ease on land for New Zealand on Sunday.

– Image / Saturday morning, Earth.nullschool.net

Meanwhile in Auckland and Wellington (and many others in between) it’s a rainy or showery day. Still some isolated downpours but generally speaking conditions will be easing back as this low expands and weakens.

A much drier and calmer Sunday is on the way for much of New Zealand but a few showers will remain in some coastal areas.

– 5pm Forecast Rain Radar / Weathermap

– 9pm Forecast Rain Radar – Weathermap (See our Rain Maps tab or link to view more)

– Image / Saturday evening Forecast Rain Radar shows rain fading away.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz