Gumboots for Cantabrians, sunhats for West Coasters
Unsettled weather is affecting most parts of New Zealand to put an end to the week, and an end to Winter. Low pressure
systems sitting to the north and east of the country will bring wet weather to eastern parts of both islands, and also
the upper North Island on Friday and into the weekend. Canterbury residents will be making good use of their gumboots,
as they are expected to be the wettest part of the country as we head towards the weekend.
“A Severe Weather Watch has been issued for Canterbury north of the Rakaia River from early Friday to early Saturday,
particularly about the High Country and the foothills, as well as Banks Peninsula,” said MetService Meteorologist Claire
Flynn. “The rain will fall as snow around higher parts, and we could see accumulations of three to six centimetres of
snow on Porters Pass by the end of Friday.”
For those who would like to see some sunny weather for the first weekend of Spring, the West Coast of the South Island
would be their best bet.
“The low to the east is causing south to southeasterly winds over the South Island,” Flynn explained. “This means that
while wet weather is affecting eastern parts, those on the West Coast will be sheltered by the Alps, meaning a mostly
sunny weekend for them.”
The low pressure systems begin to weaken and move away by the end of the weekend, and a front is expected to approach
from the west later on Monday. This will bring a return to the northwesterly winds more typical of Spring, bringing wet
weather to the west and drier weather to the east, and will set the scene for the week ahead.
ENDS