Today a taste of things to come

Today a taste of things to come

A pair of fronts currently over central NZ continue their passage north today, providing a taster of the unsettled spring weather we can expect this weekend. "It's going to be a real smorgasbord of weather this weekend - severe gales, heavy rain and hail are all expected in parts of the country," said MetService meteorologist Angus Hines. "In changeable spring conditions like this, it's important to stay up to date with the latest forecasts, as well as any warnings, before venturing outdoors," he added.

Friday will see periods of rain, mainly over western parts, as some fast-moving features rush over the country. These features also cause the flow to tilt to the southwest before the weekend. This means a major divide in weather across the country on Saturday. Cold and showery conditions are expected in southern and western parts of the country, while most places in the east can expect a warm and windy day.

A cold front moves over the country on Sunday, strengthening the existing southwest flow and bringing further rain to southern and western parts. Of particular interest is the eastern half of the South Island and parts of the lower North Island, including the Tararua Range, where winds may rise to severe gale. As well as making outdoor activities tough on land, the strong belt of southwest wind is due to whip up a heavy swell which will affect the Deep South early on Sunday and get as far north as Wellington by Sunday night.

As we head into the start of next week, the southwest flow will begin to ease over the North Island but the heavy swell will linger in many places, mainly along the western coastal areas - so be sure to check latest marine forecasts before heading out to sea. The South Island looks as though it will remain in the grip of the strong spring westerly flow.

Keep up to date with the latest forecasts and any watches/warnings atmetservice.com or on mobile devices at m.metservice.com. You can also follow our updates on MetService TV, at MetService New Zealand on Facebook, @metservice on Twitter and at blog.metservice.com

ENDS

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