Rain spreading northwards earlier in the week

Sunset on Saturday. Photo: Warren Cameron.

The MetService advises that an active front is forecast to move northeast over southern and central New Zealand on Tuesday, bringing a period of heavy rain to western areas, and northwest gales to exposed central and eastern places.

A strong, cold southerly flow follows this front, and snow may affect some of the South Island passes and High Country farms for a time.

"On Tuesday, there is high confidence rainfall amounts will reach warning criteria about Westland south of Otira, especially about the ranges, and spillover is also likely into the headwaters of the Otago and Canterbury lakes and rivers," says a MetService spokesperson.

There is moderate confidence of warnable amounts of rain for the ranges of Westland and Buller from Otira northwards, northwest Nelson, the Tararua Range and Mount Taranaki, and low confidence a heavy rain warning will be required for Fiordland on Tuesday.

"In addition, on Tuesday there is moderate confidence of a period of severe northwest gales about exposed parts of Wellington and Wairarapa including the Tararua District, and low confidence for Marlborough, the Canterbury High Country, inland parts of Otago, Fiordland, Southland and Stewart Island.

"The front weakens as it moves over northern New Zealand on Wednesday, and is replaced by a ridge of high pressure. The ridge should begin to move eastwards on Friday as another frontal system approaches from the Tasman Sea."

You may also like....

0 comments

Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.