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South Canterbury drenched by 60mm-an-hour downpour

20:27 pm on 19 January 2016

The front that brought heavy rain to Nelson and Taranaki has now moved to South Canterbury.

MetService says a slow moving rain band is wrapped around the southern and mid parts of Canterbury, bringing about 30-40 millimetres of rain an hour - and up to 60 millimetres an hour in some parts.

Forecaster Gerard Barrow said the rain started mid-morning and got heavier this afternoon, but the heavy falls should ease by about 10pm.

He said showers would continue overnight.