MetService News Release
Monday, 23 Jun 2014
Northerly winds return
A fine and frosty start for many spots across New Zealand but there's a change afoot heading into the rest of the week.
An area of low pressure sliding by the south of the country is set to direct a wet and windy flow across new Zealand.
The wettest spots this week look to be in the west of the country, but, while the east escapes the worst of the rain,
there will still be some blustery winds to watch out for.
A Severe Weather Watch has been issued ahead of heavy rain pushing onto the West Coast of the South Island later Tuesday
night and into Wednesdaymorning, with significant falls likely to spill across into the headwaters of the Otago and
Southland rivers and lakes. Strengthening winds are also in the forecast for other parts of the country, from the
Queenstown Lakes District and the Canterbury High Country and including exposed parts of Taihape, Wellington and
Marlborough.
It was a chilly start to the week for many spots in New Zealand with temperatures as low as -5C reported in parts of
Canterbury and Otago. On the North Island the central plateau recorded the coldest temperatures,down to -3C in Waiouru.
Temperatures are set to recover this week with warmer air moving in from the North. "The return of another bout of
northerlies is set to help lift those night-time temperatures back above freezing" Metservice Meteorologist John Law
said "However, we'll still see clear skies in a few areas tonight, so it looks like another frosty start for some on
Tuesday."
The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival is now well underway. On Tuesday, get along to the MetService Ski and
Board Workshop at Searle Lane Bar and Rotisserie. On Thursday evening find out more about staying safe in the
backcountry this winter at the MetService Avalanche Awareness Seminar, presented by the Mountain Safety Council's
avalanche and back country safety experts, at the Queenstown Memorial Centre. Find out more about these events and all
the rest of the activities happening in Queenstown this week atwww.winterfestival.co.nz.