7-Aug-2006
Rain Giving Way To Settled Weather
Settled weather is forecast to return to all the country by Wednesday.
Northeastern parts of the North Island took the brunt of the wind and rain over the weekend with MetService rain gauges
at Whangarei Airport measuring 95 mm, Whitianga Airport 138 mm, and Whakatane Airport 105 mm. Up to 217mm of rain fell
in parts of the Coromandel ranges and 208mm on the northern slopes of Mount Taranaki. Top wind gusts were 96 kilometres
per hour at Cape Reinga and Tiritiri Matangi Island (off Whangaparaoa).
"This rain band came from the subtropics," commented MetService Weather Ambassador, Bob McDavitt. "The rainfall
intensity occasionally reached 10 to 15 mm per hour, and that's higher than the usual winter rain."
McDavitt added that the main rain band has now moved off to the Chatham Islands area. "Part of it has wrapped back onto
Canterbury where it is losing its tropical warmth. Strong cold southerly winds are affecting the South Island and some
snow may fall on the alpine passes until Monday night. These southerly winds may also bring some snow to the Desert Road
on Tuesday."
ENDS