MetService has issued a severe weather warning for the South Island West Coast

Along the ranges in Westland from north of Haast to Doubtful Sound, up to 300mm of rain is forecast between now and 9 in the morning, reaching falls of 30-40mm/hour.

On the eastern side of the Alps, in the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers near and south of Arthur's Pass, there'll be up to 250mm of rain from 5 in the morning, falling at up to 40 mm/hour.

There are also strong wind warnings for The Tararua District, Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough and Canterbury overnight tonight.