People in the Tasman district are being warned that the region may experience flooding, slips and burst riverbanks as heavy rain pours.
MetService forecaster Alain Baillie says so far the Tasman region has been heaviest hit, with about 40mm of rain overnight and the downpours expected to intensify later this morning.
"Up to 73mm at Paradise Peak, Collingwood had 50, Tākaka 40 mms, further west Westport at 28 mms."
The region has an Orange heavy rain warnings in place and people are being urged to take care on the roads.
However, the rain is coming as a relief for farmers who have been experiencing drought conditions especially near Murchison and Golden Bay.
Mayor's warning
Tasman Mayor Tim King said this amount of rain could see slips, flooded roads and rivers bursting their banks.
"The general advice is to be aware, if you're in an area that is potentially subject to the impacts of heavy rainfall do the normal things; checking gutters, checking stormwater gates, checking your own property," he says.
"Be aware about travel over the course of the next 48 hours, it may well be that non-essential travel is something that people could delay or put off."
The Tasman District Council says slipping could impact the roads on hills east of Tākaka, including the roads into the Abel Tasman National Park and Tākaka Hill, as well as the Whangamoa and Rai Valley Roads.
Tim says councils in the region have met with Civil Defence, and will be keeping a close eye on the situation.
Road warnings
The Transport Agency (NZTA) is urging people driving in areas under active weather warnings to take extra care on the roads.
It says bad weather could see roads closed at short notice.
"Wet roads are slippery so road users should drive to the conditions - reduce speed, increase following distances, and avoid sudden braking. They should also use headlights if visibility is poor - be safe, be seen. Heavy rain also increases the risks of slips and localised flooding."
NZTA West Coast maintenance contract manager Moira Whinham says the most significant impacts on the West Coast are expected through the Buller District, and over the SH73 alpine passes, with smaller amounts of rainfall forecast south of Greymouth that might affect SH6 drivers.
Rainfall a relief for farmers
Farmers in the Tasman District say this year's drought is the worst in recent history but today's heavy rain forecast is bringing much-needed relief.
Federated Farmers president, Wayne Langford, who farms near Golden Bay, says the drought-breaker has arrived.
He told RNZ that 90mm of rain has already soaked in overnight and a steady flow is continuing.
Wayne says the drought has been tough in the region, particularly in Tasman and Murchison.
"Drought's one of those things. Once you get to a certain point it doesn't matter whether it's a 50-year one or a 20-year one, it doesn't matter what it is - a drought's a drought."
Federated Farmers Nelson president Stephen Todd says Tasman farmers are hoping the rain would help ease drought conditions.
Stephen, whose family owns dairy farms in the Tūtaki Valley near Murchison, says this year's drought has been brutal and had cut milk production significantly.
"We'll keep our fingers crossed that we'll get the rain and hopefully we don't get any damages out of it but certainly the rain is more than welcome.
"Even if we do get a bit of flooding I think people will live with that to get the growth again really," he says.
