Live weather updates: Storm brings fresh flooding and strong winds as it moves north

A storm that flooded roads and trapped motorists in the South Island is moving north, bringing heavy rain, strong winds and possible flooding for morning commuters.

Flooding and slips closed several southern state highways on Sunday. Firefighters were called early Monday to help people who had driven into floodwaters near Murchison. On Sunday evening, a woman and her dog were rescued after becoming trapped in chest-high water in a South Island gorge.

Strong winds also struck the Far North overnight. Firefighters rescued a person in Ahipara after winds flipped their cabin, leaving its sliding door facing skyward.

MetService meteorologist Samkelo Magwala described the weather as a “complex system” moving up the country. A heavy rain watch covers southern and eastern Wellington and Wairarapa until 2 p.m., while an orange warning remains in place for the Tararua Range until 3 p.m. Rain watches also cover Taranaki, the Ruahine Range, and Whanganui and Manawatū north of Feilding.

The heaviest rain was expected overnight and into the early hours, with Auckland also due to receive rain and heavier falls around 9 or 10 a.m. Snowfall warnings apply to the Crown Range Road and the Lindis, Porters, Arthur’s and Lewis passes. A strong wind watch from Nelson City to D’Urville Island remains in force until 11 a.m., with southeasterly winds potentially nearing severe-gale strength in exposed places.

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complex system