It has been a great start to the first week of the holidays or last week of school, however MetService has issued Severe Weather Warnings and Watches for rain and wind over the lower South Island on Tuesday, as a complex low system makes its way over the country during the next few days.

“Hopefully there won’t be a dampening of the Christmas spirit to go with the wet weather we’ll see across New Zealand this week,” says MetService Meteorologist Rob Kerr, “as there will be rain affecting the South Island from early Tuesday, and MetService has issued a Severe Weather Rain Warning for parts of Westland and Fiordland, along with a Severe Wind Watch for inland parts of the island.”

“Then the rain sweeps over the the North Island during Wednesday and Thursday, followed by showers across the whole country on Friday as the low pulls away to the east,” Kerr added. Further Severe Weather Watches and Warnings may be added as this feature moves north.

Although there is a lot of weather between now and Santa’s arrival, looking ahead to Christmas day, the forecast for the South Island looks promising, with westerlies bringing a bit of cloud and showers to the west, and warm, dry winds to the east. Away from the Mainland, a trough over the north and east of the North Island is pushed away as a ridge of high pressure over central New Zealand spreads north. In terms of weather, the North Island will have generally settled conditions for most, but MetService will keeping a close eye on the position of the trough to the north, in case it decides to sink south and put a dampener on the Christmas BBQ.

Warnings are about taking action:
• When severe weather is imminent or is occurring
• Issued only when required
• Recommendation: ACT
Watches are about being alert:
• When severe weather is possible but not sufficiently imminent or certain for a Warning to be issued
• Issued only when required
• Recommendation: BE READY
Outlooks are about looking ahead:
• To provide advance information on possible future Watches and/or Warnings
• Issued routinely once or twice a day
• Recommendation: PLAN

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