Prepare for more flooding - weather analyst

Regions hit by flooding this week should brace for a possible repeat this weekend, according to weather analyst Philip Duncan.

"Computer models for the next seven days indicate that a series of fronts and lows are going to bring more heavy rain into sodden western areas of both islands," said Mr Duncan, WeatherWatch.co.nz head weather analyst.

Areas of Whanganui, Manawatu, Horowhenua and Wairarapa were lashed by wind and rain this week.

Slips, surface flooding and swollen river levels on Monday caused dangerous driving conditions and drowned paddocks, prompting farmers in Tararua district to carry stricken stock to higher ground.

Whanganui District Council infrastructure manager Julian Reweti said yesterday the city's main stormwater pipes were at full capacity.

Up to 300mm of rain fell in the Tararua Ranges, with up to 100mm in low-lying areas around Pahiatua, 64km northeast of Masterton.

Mr Duncan said that after a winter that was dominated by easterlies and flooding events in the east, the first month of spring looked set to reverse that trend, switching the pattern to the west.

A low-pressure system would push down over northern and central parts of New Zealand today and tomorrow, bringing more rain from Northland to Manawatu and into Nelson and the upper West Coast.

"The Tararua Ranges will see more rain, possibly heavy, as early as tonight," Mr Duncan said. Any prolonged rain could very easily see rivers rise again.

On Saturday a larger low will move in from the Tasman Sea again bringing heavy rain to western New Zealand - possibly the entire west coast from Fiordland to Northland.

More wet weather was expected next week from fronts coming in from the west.

- NZPA