Second big storm unlikely to spare Nelson

Nelson is expected to take a battering from gales on Wednesday as the second fierce storm in a week hits New Zealand.

The region avoided the storm that caused death and destruction in the North Island at the weekend, but is not expected to get off as lightly when an intensifying cold front coming off the Tasman Sea reaches the South Island Tuesday night.

Gales, heavy rains and snow are predicted.

Nelson weather forecaster John Mathieson said easterly winds of more than 80kmh were expected to lash exposed headlands, hills and valleys in the region.

Even in more sheltered areas, the gusts would range from 40 to 70kmh.

The front would bring sporadic rain to the region, with the heaviest falls in northwest Nelson and the eastern ranges, he said.

Snow was expected down to 500m.

Mr Mathieson said conditions would ease from late Thursday morning as the low weakened over the South Island.

Rainbow Ski Area maintenance worker Hamish Lilley on Tuesday morning was enjoying perfect conditions at the skifield following a fall of 7cm of powder overnight. However, with the front coming in, the skifield may be closed Wednesday and Thursday.

"We'll be making the call tomorrow morning," he said.

Mr Lilley is in his first season at the field but said longtime workers reported that, so far, this had been one of the best seasons they had experienced.

"Last year, the guys tell me, there was barely any snow on the main trails," he said.

The skifield had a 1.1m snow base and this was expected to get even deeper with more falls over coming days.

Forecasters say the upcoming storm is unlikely to be technically a weather "bomb" - a depression in which central pressures fall by 24 hectopascals or more in 24 hours - but its impact will be felt more widely.

Heavy rain is likely in Marlborough and Canterbury Wednesday and on Thursday, with severe southeast gales in exposed places.

In the North Island, heavy rain and strong winds are likely to cause surface flooding and even slips in regions where soils are already saturated from the weekend's "bomb".

That storm, described as the worst in a decade, resulted in at least three deaths, power cuts to thousands of homes, road closures and widespread flooding.

As residents continue to clean up, they have been told to expect more of the same during the next 48 hours.

Heavy rain and gale warnings have been issued for Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.

Far North District Council spokeswoman Alison Lees said any flooding from the second storm was likely to be more extensive because of its "prolonged nature".

FAIRFAX

- © Fairfax NZ News