Canterbury and Westland to be pelted with heavy downpours, surface flooding possible
Otira and Canterbury Lakes residents should expect rainfall rates of between 15-25mm/h today through until early Wednesday morning.
In a statement issued Tuesday morning, MetService warned that the severe downpours would make driving in the areas hazardous, with rising rivers and surface flooding possible.
What you need to know:
For Otira residents
- Expect 150 to 250mm to fall.
- Thunderstorms are likely.
- Freezing level at 2400m dropping to 1400m on Tuesday night.
For residents near Canterbury Lakes
- Expect 90 to 140mm of rain to fall, with higher rates expected near the main divide.
- Thunderstorms are likely.
- Freezing level about 2400 metres this morning, lowering to 1600 metres tonight (Tuesday).
To keep up to date with the latest weather warnings, please visit MetService's National Severe Weather Information Homepage.
Poll: Should we ditch daylight saving? 🕰️
First introduced in New Zealand in 1927 with the passing of the Summer Time Act, it's what we know as 'Daylight Saving' and this year it ends on the first Sunday in April.
While we do get to sleep in this time around, some people would like to scrap the clock tinkering for good.
And why? Some evidence suggests the time changes are bad for our health as they mess with sleep patterns leading to short-term fatigue and affecting mood. Meanwhile the hour change is frustrating for farmers and a nightmare for getting the littlies to sleep. But what's your take?
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40.5% Yes - get rid of the clock changes
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57.6% No, I enjoy it
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1.9% Other - I'll share below
Alan and Hazel Kerr share Senior New Zealander of the Year Award 2026
Dr Alan and Hazel Kerr describe themselves as ‘just ordinary old Kiwis’, despite being named as the 2026 Ryman Healthcare Senior New Zealanders of the Year Te Mātāpuputu o te Tau.
The amazing couple prompted a standing ovation at a star-studded Auckland event which recognised their tireless efforts, with Alan travelling to and from Gaza and the West Bank 40 times to help children over 20 years, and Hazel travelling 20 times.
Click read more to find out more.
Hit and Run car accident
Hi does anyone know of a faded blue flat deck ute which drove down breezes road Sat 28th Feb and clipped my car on the right rear and sped off going down breezes road then turned into cuthberts road at 1.13pm the ute would have damage on the left hand front guard and bumper, he was seen on our CCTV, cheers.
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