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The severe weather is expected to bring heavy snow and rain to the lower South Island “could not come at a worse time” for some farmers.
Meteorological authorities expect a “significant meteorological event” for the entire country, as a complex and active low pressure system moves east of New Zealand this weekend.
There is a heavy snow watch for Clutha, Central Otago south of Alexandra, Southland, Fiordland and Stewart Island from 6:00 pm tomorrow until 10:00 am Tuesday.
The snow is expected to drop to 300 meters tomorrow night and close to sea level on Monday morning. The heaviest snowfall is expected above 300m at this stage, where accumulations could approach the warning criteria.
Federated Farmers Southland President Geoffrey Young said that while many farmers had finished calving and calving, those in the hills and highlands were just getting started.
“It couldn’t have come at a worse time for them,” he said.
Farmers would have to make sure their stocks were sheltered, but most of the stocks were in very good condition after winter, which was positive, he said.
However, there were some concerned farmers out there.
“It’s not just about their livelihood, they really relate to their actions and want to keep them safe.”
Rains are also expected in other parts of the south on Monday and Tuesday, including Dunedin and Queenstown.
There is a heavy rain watch for Fiordland from 6pm today to 1pm tomorrow and there is also a wind watch for much of the south.
The MetService has released a graph detailing exactly how poorly the weather is forecasting, with the average forecast models for tomorrow pointing towards one of the worst storms since at least 2014.
The intensity of the severe weather forecast for the weekend falls just above that of a storm in November 2018, when roads were closed on the west coast due to flooding.
It falls just short of another major weather event in May 2014, when 4,500 homes were without power and heavy snowfall occurred in Queenstown.
Upper Canterbury is also on alert, as a strong wind advisory has been issued that includes the expectation of gusts of up to 120km / h.
– Additional reporting NZME
