MetService News Release
1 January 2017

A Turbulent Start to 2018

The far south of New Zealand was the first to see the sun rise in 2018 and it will most likely see the most sunshine this New Year’s Day.

“Clear skies and maximum temperatures in the mid-twenties have made the lower South Island one of the best places to enjoy the first day of 2018,” commented MetService Meteorologist April Clark “though those venturing into the water in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay wouldn’t have been hampered by cloud or cool temperatures either”, she added.

A low west of the country currently bringing scattered showers to the those north of the central plateau weakens on Tuesday. However, warm moist air from the north continues to feed in over much of New Zealand. This moist subtropical air makes for another cloudy morning for those north of the Southern Lakes on Tuesday and brings further showers as well as the chance of isolated thunderstorms and downpours about central regions of the North Island during the afternoon.

“The second half this week is looking wet for the North Island”, Clark said. “A dynamic low is expected to form to the west of the Island on Thursday. This is likely to bring heavy rain and strong or gale northeasterly winds to northern regions including Bay of Plenty.”

There is some uncertainty of the exact path of the low from Friday onward, but there is potential for persistent rain to spread as far south as Christchurch by Saturday. Those planning to be outdoors during this time are recommended to keep updated with this rapidly developing system closer to time.

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