Dunedin set for a drenching as cold front bears down

Just when you thought summer was just around the corner, a frigid southerly blast is about to bring heavy rain to eastern Otago — including Dunedin — and snow to inland areas. MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said a heavy rain watch was in place for Dunedin, North Otago and Clutha, from 6pm on Wednesday until 6pm on Thursday. Check severe weather alerts here Amounts may approach warning criteria — 100mm within 24 hours — and it was possible the watch may be upgraded to a warning, he said. “We've got this trough of low pressure that's going to be gradually moving over the country on Thursday, and after that there's going to be a bit of a ridge showing up. “So with that trough, there's going to be a southerly that's going to be coming up the South Island bringing pretty decent rainfall.