23-Mar-2005
A Wet Start to Easter
MetService meteorologists are watching the approach of a low-pressure system that has already given two solid days of
rain to Sydney. This low is expected to cross the South Island on Thursday night and Friday morning, bringing some parts
of New Zealand a wet and windy start to Easter.
"Rain should start arriving in west central areas of the country late on Thursday", commented MetService Weather
Ambassador, Bob McDavitt, "with strong northerly winds concentrating the heaviest falls on the northwest of the South
Island and in the ranges of northwest Nelson, Buller and Westland during Thursday night and into Friday morning. We have
already issued a severe weather watch for these regions."
McDavitt added that on Friday a band of heavy thundery rain should cross the North Island, especially affecting
northwestern areas, Coromandel, and the Bay of Plenty. "The clouds spiraling around the low are then likely to bring
rain and southerly winds to the east of the South Island, mainly to the south of Banks Peninsula."
A wet start doesn't make a wet Easter. "Once the wind and rain associated with this low-pressure system has passed away,
the outlook for the rest of the Easter break is for disturbed west to southwest winds over the whole country containing
both fine periods and showers. This year it looks as though the wettest part of Easter is at the start."
Travellers preparing for Easter are able to get the latest weather updates directly from the MetService web site.
ENDS