Council water rangers are today lowering flows in our stockwater races ahead of the rain event forecast this weekend.

Reducing the volume of water at stockwater intakes means the whole race network can better handle run-off that also makes it way into the network during rain events.

MetService is predicting a large low pressure system will move onto the South Island on Saturday, bringing heavy rain to many areas, and heavy snow to the high country from Canterbury to Otago.

Warnings for this event may be issued and people are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts.