Cyclone Uesi: Heavy winds and rain set to arrive on Sunday, West Coast residents warned to be wary on roads

Wind gusts are expected to exceed 100 km/h in Fiordland, West Coast & Alps with 50-70 km/h common elsewhere.
Wind gusts are expected to exceed 100 km/h in Fiordland, West Coast & Alps with 50-70 km/h common elsewhere. Photo credit: Niwa Weather/Twitter.

Forecasters are warning West Coast residents to be wary on the roads with heavy rain and winds set to slam the region.

Drivers are being advised to drive to the conditions as Cyclone Uesi impacts the South Island on Sunday. The ex-tropical cyclone is forecast to bring heavy winds and rain until Monday. 

Sonja Farmer from Metservice says flooding is a possibility, with the South Island experiencing "rain upon rain."

Ground soil already saturated by last week's downpour is set to get another hammering on Sunday on the West Coast.

"We will potentially see significant rainfall amounts in the same areas that were affected by [the] weather last week, which could mean impacts to our lake levels as they are already high," Ellyse Gore, Otago Regional Council's duty flood officer told Newshub.

On Saturday, NIWA Weather posted rainfall totals of 200-400 mm are likely in Fiordland & Alps, which could lead to surface flooding & swelling of rivers.

The forecaster expects wind gusts to exceed 100 km/h in Fiordland, West Coast & Alps with 50-70 km/h common elsewhere. 

Cyclone Uesi will be the first in 2020.