MetService has issued a severe weather watch for much of the South Island, with Northwest gales and heavy rain expected to hit hard.
An active front is moving over the Tasman Sea onto Fiordland in the early hours of Tuesday morning, before moving up to Westland early Wednesday morning.
MetService warns that northwesterly winds may reach severe gale strength in Otago, Southland, Fiordland, and Canterbury.
The front is forecast to deliver a prolonged period of heavy rain to the west and south of the South Island.
State Highway 94 between Milford and Te Anau due to an avalanche risk.
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