Weekend cold front to bring heavy rain, severe gales and snow
If the weather’s good at your place this morning, soak it up – because it’s about to turn a bit nasty for many.
A winter weather switcheroo is on the way for much of the country, with unseasonably mild conditions about to be pushed out by a cold front moving over the South Island today before reaching the North Island tomorrow.
MetService has issued almost a dozen warnings and watches for heavy rain and severe gales across the lower North Island, Marlborough Sounds and western, central and southeastern parts of the South Island.
Snow is also possible in the South Island alpine passes and ski fields tomorrow.
However, the second-to-last weekend of meteorological winter would start well for many, especially in the North Island, MetService meteorologist Devlin Lynden said.
“[There’ll be] cloud building through central [North Island] areas with perhaps some light drizzly type showers for western areas.
“[But] many of the east coast areas of the North Island are expected to remain pretty nice through the day.”
It won’t be cold today, with much of the North Island expecting temperatures in the high teens, followed by warmer-than-usual overnight temperatures and comfortable highs tomorrow - including 21C for Napier and Hastings.
Aucklanders can expect 16C today and 17C tomorrow, while Tauranga is forecast to reach 17C on both days and Hamilton 16C.
“So definitely a warmer shift given the time of year,” Lynden said.
Eastern parts of the South Island can also expect mild temperatures today, with Blenheim, Christchurch and Dunedin tipped to reach 17C thanks to strong northwesterlies.
But colder air behind the front is expected to drop Dunedin’s high to 13C tomorrow, while Christchurch fares better with a forecast high of 16C.
Potential snowfalls this weekend could be good news for some South Island ski fields.
Despite the mild temperatures, it will be a wet or windy weekend for many South Islanders.
An 18-hour heavy rain warning has been issued for the ranges of the Buller and Grey districts from 3pm today, with thunderstorms possible tomorrow morning.
Nelson Lakes, the headwaters of Canterbury lakes and rivers, and the ranges of Westland District are also under heavy rain watches today and into tomorrow morning.
In other parts of the South Island - as well as the lower North Island - strong winds have prompted warnings.
Severe west or northwest gales gusting up to 120km/h in exposed places are expected in Tararua District, Wairarapa, Wellington, the Marlborough Sounds, Canterbury High Country, Southland (south of Gore) and Stewart Island tomorrow.
A strong wind watch is also in place for Dunedin and Clutha tomorrow, with a high chance of being upgraded to a warning.
“We’re likely going to see some snow for the ski fields on Sunday; potentially some snow impacting some of the higher alpine passes,” Lynden said.
It should be a fairly settled weekend in Auckland, but a few showers are forecast tomorrow afternoon and evening. Photo / Sylvie Whinray
North Islanders can expect an okay first half of tomorrow before the front begins reaching the southwest later in the day, he said.
“By the latter half of Sunday much of the southwestern part of the North Island, so Taranaki and down that west coast there, will likely be impacted by rain.”
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