MetService News Release
3 April 2018

Two Fronts to Move Across the Country

This week much of the country remains dry despite a series of fronts travelling northward over the South Island. This means it is set to be a wet few days for those in the west of the South Island, some scattered showers for the west of the North Island, but in contrast most eastern areas of both Islands remain dry.

“There are two significant fronts set to pass over the country this week. The first is currently affecting the South Island and weakens and slows as it passes over the central North Island during Wednesday,” Gerrit Keyser MetService Meteorologist reported.

“By the time it is over the North Island later today (Tuesday), the front will have only a fraction of its original intensity bringing scattered showers, mainly for western regions,” continued Keyser.

A brief ridge of high pressure pushes onto the North Island bringing some finer weather Thursdaybefore another front is forecast to move onto the far south on Friday bringing a similar sequence of weather to New Zealand during Friday and Saturday.

This common weather pattern reflects the basic climatology of New Zealand, as the predominant westerly wind flow over our latitudes paired with a sheltering effect from the Southern Alps means the west coast of the South Island receives, on average, eight times the rainfall from passing troughs compared to the east coast. This is essentially why the western coasts of the South Island are renowned for their lush, green forests.

“All in all, a generally settled week of weather is signalled for the North Island and east of the South Island with plenty of sunshine hours expected, even if the evenings have become shorter with the recent end to daylight saving,” Keyser said.

The image above shows the forecast rainfall accumulations for each day from one of the global weather models (UKMO).

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