Wild spring weather: Lightning, 135km/h wind gusts – and more on the way

More than 3000 lightning strikes have been recorded in the past 12 hours and 135km/h gusts have hit Wellington as wild weather moves up the country.

Heavy rain has also hit places like Mt Cook Village, with more than 90mm falling in 12 hours as the front moves over Fiordland and Southland, MetService meteorologist Heather Keats told Ryan Bridge TODAY.

Gales, heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail and even a touch of snow have all been forecast for some areas before a second system drags wet weather across most of the country on Sunday.

Keats said high winds with gusts over 210km/h had been measured in the Canterbury high country, while Wellington’s Mt Kaukau weather station had registered a 135km/h gusts.

A second round of watches and warnings was expected for the weekend, as a new low forming in the Tasman Sea was likely to make conditions “pretty miserable” as it raced over the country.

Sunny skies and mild temperatures are still possible for northern New Zealand, including Auckland and the Bay of Plenty, but heavy rain is possible late on Sunday or early on Monday morning – with potential issues for commuters.

The timing of this weekend’s weather was still “iffy”, Keats said, but lots of thunderstorms were likely, along with potential hail, for the entire west coast up to Taranaki, as well as Southland up to Dunedin.

“There is also the chance of small tornadoes with those for the west coast too,” Keats said.

A handful of watches and warnings have been issued, with strong northwesterly winds expected to affect eastern parts of the South Island and the lower North Island today.

An orange strong wind warning is in place for Wellington and Wairarapa (excluding the Tararua District) this morning, with severe gale northwesterlies gusting 130km/h in exposed places.

Strong wind watches have also been issued for Marlborough this morning, and Hawke’s Bay and the Tararua District between 9am and 4pm tomorrow.

A nine-hour strong wind watch begins at midnight tonight for Canterbury’s high country and on the plains close to the foothills.

The front that brought heavy rain to parts of the South Island last night was moving north and was expected to reach central New Zealand around midday, MetService forecaster Sophie Huntington said.

MetService's rain radar for tomorrow at 6am, when heavy rain is expected across parts of the South Island. Image / MetService 

An orange heavy rain warning was in place for the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur’s Pass National Park from midnight until 8am, with up to 130mm in the area of the main divide and lesser amounts to the east.

A nine-hour heavy rain watch for the ranges of Buller began at midnight, and wild conditions could be a feature for some in the South Island.

“Thunderstorms are possible as the front moves up the South Island, bringing strong wind gusts and hail. The front then weakens as it pushes up the North Island.”

Rain was also expected to turn to snow showers from this morning on Milford Rd (State Highway 94), with up to 8cm possible at the Homer Tunnel and lesser amounts to 600m.

Despite the unsettled weather in the west, eastern parts of the country could expect mild temperatures and sunny spells, Huntington said.

“However, increasing high cloud, particularly across the South Island, may take the edge off the sunshine at times.”

Highs of around 18C are forecast in Auckland over the next three days, although afternoon showers tomorrow could be briefly heavy, with a similar outlook for Whangārei, Hamilton and Tauranga.

A high of 23C is forecast in Hastings tomorrow – with 22C in neighbouring Napier – with mostly fine weather through the weekend, bar a few showers this afternoon and Sunday evening.

It'll be like a summer's day in Hawke's Bay tomorrow, with highs in the low 20s forecast. Photo / Paul Taylor 

In Christchurch, highs in the late teens are forecast for the next three days, but that will be tempered by rain on Sunday.

That wet turn is caused by a low-pressure system developing in the Tasman Sea, expected to bring widespread rain and showers to end the weekend, Huntington said.

“The South Island is likely to see the heaviest falls, with rain not reaching parts of the North Island until late.”

For those heading to the Aims Games in Tauranga, a fine start to the event was expected, with some showers possible on Monday, she said.

Nearly 30,000 people are expected in the city before the annual sporting event for intermediate-aged children.

A wind change would likely temper the warmer temperatures enjoyed by many late this week, Huntington said.

“Next week looks like a shift towards more southwesterly winds, so temperatures will come down a notch.”