People travelling on state highways between Canterbury and the West Coast today are being urged to take extra care because of strong winds and disruption on the roads.

On State Highway 7, the road is down to a single lane with stop/go traffic management because of fallen trees near Heslop Creek Bridge, between Rahu Saddle and Springs Junction. Short delays can be expected.

On State Highway 73, an Area Warning is in place from Arthur’s Pass Village to Kumara Junction because of slips and flooding. Caution is advised along this route.

In addition to the weather today, MetService has a strong wind watch in place for the Canterbury high country for the period from 11am to 9pm tomorrow (Saturday), with west to northwest winds potentially approaching severe gale in exposed places.

A complex low pressure system is forecast to move onto the South Island from the Tasman Sea on Sunday.

MetService says there is moderate confidence that rainfall accumulations will approach warning criteria about the ranges of Westland, Grey and Buller, with some spillover into the headwaters of Otago and Canterbury also likely.