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Heavy rain and gales are expected to lash parts of the South Island as an active front moves in from Thursday.
MetService has issued orange heavy rain warnings for Westland and the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass.
In Westland, up to 250 millimetres is expected to fall about the ranges with up to 120mm forecast to hit closer to the coast between Thursday evening and Friday afternoon.
Peak rates are forecast to reach 15 to 25mm an hour about the ranges.
Similar peak rates are expected to fall in Canterbury with up to 200mm of rain forecast to hit the main divide with lesser amounts in the east from midnight Friday until the afternoon.
MetService said there was a low chance of either being upgraded to a red warning, but warned of possible surface flooding, slips and difficult driving conditions.
Yellow heavy rain watches are in place from Thursday for parts of Fiordland and from Friday for Tasman northwest of Motueka, and the Buller and Grey Districts.
The watch for Tasman has a high chance of being upgraded to a warning and people should keep up to date with the latest forecasts, MetService said.
Strong wind watches have been issued for Fiordland, the Queenstown Lakes and parts of the Canterbury High Country and Southland on Thursday with a moderate chance they will be upgraded to warnings.
"Northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places," MetService said.
Winds are expected to ease in the Canterbury High Country on Friday morning.