Issued at 12:28pm 16-Aug-2004
MetService: More Wind to Come.
The low pressure system that has been bringing snow to eastern areas is about to be reinforced with more wind.
MetService meteorologists are forecasting that the low will stall between New Zealand and Chatham Islands on Tuesday and
then loop back towards the mainland on Wednesday and Thursday.
If this occurs then it will bring gale force southerlies to the coast and hills between Banks Peninsula and Mahia
Peninsula, with severe gales and heavy swells between Kaikoura and Wairarapa and through Cook Strait. With these gales
there should be some heavy rain and more snow. Conditions will not ease properly until the low goes away on Friday.
"The wind and snow in the south has eased for the time-being", commented MetService Weather Ambassador, Bob McDavitt.
"Snow warnings are in place for southern and eastern parts of the North Island and from the Central Plateau to the
southern Taranaki slopes. There are likely to be further warnings issued on Tuesday."
The weather is making driving conditions difficult, and MetService road snowfall warnings in effect on Monday cover the
Milford Road, Rimutuka Road and Desert Road. Other mountain roads may also be affected. Latest road snowfall warnings
may be found at the www.metservice.co.nz web site and anyone may apply from this web site to receive these and other
warnings via email.
ENDS