If you’re on the West Coast today flooding is the main concern. If you live in eastern NZ finding some cool shade is the main focus as temperatures surge closer to 30 degrees by late morning.

Rain on the West Coast today will be torrential which will lead to further flooding and possible slips. There have already been some road closures. The rain eases overnight further south and by Friday afternoon most should have cleared and instead will be centered more over Marlborough and Canterbury.

Motorists in the South Island are advised to take extreme care and keep up to date with the latest highway information from NZTA.

This shift from western rain to north eastern rain on Friday in the South Island will see a big temperature drop with places like Canterbury thanks to the southerly change. Some parts of Canterbury have been (and still are) over 10 degrees warmer than average, but come Friday the daytime high drops by over 15 degrees to end up a few degrees below average.

Already this morning in Hawke’s Bay the temperature is in the late 20sC with the 30 degree mark possibly being hit today in some pockets in the east. 

– Temperatures as of 11am Thursday – click here or the image for LIVE observations.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz