Low brings severe gusts and late Spring chill to south

Severe northwest gusts plagued central New Zealand last night and this morning. Severe Weather Warnings were in force for gusts of 130 km/hr in Wellington and Wairarapa, and a Watch is in force for Kapiti Coast. Gusts of 126 km/hr had been recorded in the suburb of Kelburn, and 133 km/hr on the Rimutaka Hill Road on Sunday morning.

“These severe gusts have been caused by a low to the south of New Zealand, causing isobars to bunch up over the country. Fortunately, these severe gusts are expected to ease during this afternoon,” said MetService Meteorologist Claire Flynn. “Northwest winds could still be strong, though the gusts will no longer be severe.”

A Severe Weather Watch was also in force for the possibility that southwest gales could become severe for parts of Southland and Clutha through to Monday morning. The Watch also advised of large rainfall accumulations on the ranges of Buller and the Tararua Range through to Sunday evening.

Meanwhile, a cool west to southwest change has meant that late November snow has fallen on some of the higher roads in the South Island. Milford Road was closed on Sunday morning due to snow, and snow was also reported on the Crown Range Road.

“Snow on these higher roads in late November isn’t something that happens every year, but it isn’t unheard of either,” Flynn explained.

© Scoop Media