Severe weather warnings are in place for southern and central New Zealand, this weekend

MetService warns of heavy rainfall for the South Island on Sunday, with potential for slips and surface flooding.

From this evening, severe north to northwest gales are expected for Wellington, the Wairarapa, and down through the South Island, easing tomorrow night.

MetService's Mmathapelo Makgabutlane says the downpour, is due in part to an atmospheric river transporting warm and moist air through the country.

She says the geography of the South Island works with the atmospheric river, to produce a lot of rainfall.