Heavy rain warning for Marlborough ranges

Those living in Marlborough's ranges should expect a few days of heavy rain from 11am tomorrow, according to Metservice.

The ranges of Marlborough northwest of the Inland Kaikoura Range, including the Bryant Range and the Sounds have been put under an orange heavy rain warning for 25hrs from 11am Thu, 3 Apr - noon Fri, 4 Apr.

Metservice said to expect 200 to 300 mm of rain about the Richmond and Bryant ranges and 100 to 150 mm elsewhere over the 25-hour period, with peak rates of 20 to 30 mm/h expected in the ranges.

"Today we're expecting things to gradually get wetter as the day goes on, starting in the ranges, where the largest rainfall accumulation is expected, and extending to other areas in the afternoon and evening (lesser amounts)", said Metservice Meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane.

"There is an Orange Warning for Heavy Rain in place for the ranges, the latest details of which are available at https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home".

"Into Friday, rainfall continues in the ranges (having a flow-on effect on streams and rivers), with lesser rainfall elsewhere - the rain looks to have cleared by the end of the day."

Elsewhere, Buller, Westland, Tasman northwest of Motueka, and Mount Taranaki are under similar orange warnings starting throughout Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Heavy rain watch's stretch across Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, other parts of Nelson/Tasman and the West Coast.