An active front moves eastwards across New Zealand today, bringing periods of heavy rain with possible thunderstorms to western parts of the South Island and the lower North Island. MetService meteorologist Andy Best commented “There is an improving weather trend for the first half of this week as the front departs to the east of the country late Sunday followed by a southerly outbreak on Monday as a ridge of high pressure over the Tasman Sea begins to build over the South Island.” He went onto say that “The ridge is forecast to cover all of Aotearoa through until Thursday, apart from a brief southerly flick up the east coast of the South Island during Wednesday.”

In more detail, an unstable southwest flow will cover central and southern New Zealand Mondaymorning. with showers and a few thunderstorms affecting many central and southern areas. Later Monday, the showers and thunderstorms are expected to become confined to western areas, from coastal Waikato to Taranaki and southeastwards to Manawatu as well as affecting the northwest ranges of Nelson and Buller.

Tuesday sees a definite improving trend, as the ridge of high pressure becomes established over the entire country. Over the North Island, just a few showers about the east coast with fine weather and morning frosts elsewhere. Over the South Island, mainly fine with morning frosts, just a few showers for Buller and the east coast at first.

On Wednesday, the ridge still covers much of New Zealand, but partly cloudy conditions feature over most places. Any showers about the east coast of the North Island should clear, while a trough moving up the South Island brings showers to Fiordland, and to Southland for a time, with brief showers also along the east coast of the island.

Best also commented that “People should be aware of the Severe Rain and Wind watches in force which might have an impact on their locations today. Go to the MetService Severe Weather Watch and the Thunderstorm Outlook pages, found as links in the red banner at the top of the MetService home Page http://info.metraweather.com/e/60812/metservicenz/fyzss4/721331885

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