Severe Weather Eases Tomorrow as Winds Shift Southwest

An active front crossed the country last night leaving New Zealand under an unstable airmass for the remainder of today according to MetService. Severe Weather Watches and Warnings are in force for much of the North Island and Nelson, Buller and Marlborough as well as a Severe Thunderstorm Watch which will make for another rather wet and windy day for much of the country.

MetService have a few Heavy Rain Warnings out for areas in the North and South Island, including a prolonged period of heavy rain in the eastern Bay of Plenty and Gisborne ranges extending into tomorrow. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in place for areas in the North Island until this evening including Auckland, Hamilton and northern Wellington. There are also plenty of Severe Watches in force for today, with the higher ground of the North Island seeing a Heavy Rain Watch and the entire North Island under a Strong Wind Watch including the Marlborough Sounds. These are all accompanied by Road Snow Warnings for a number of roads in the South Island and the Desert road tonight.

Tomorrow, we will see a change as the winds start to shift southwest in behind the active frontal features. As many parts of the country are sheltered in this southwest flow much of the country will start seeing an improvement in their weather by the end of the Tuesday.

“Tuesday’s improved weather will be short lived, however, as western areas of the North and South Island including Southland, Clutha and Central Otago, will see wet weather again on Wednesdaywith another front moving up the country,” comments MetService meteorologist Kyle Lee, “There is a risk that the west coast of the South Island might see more heavy rain with this front as well as snow to as low as 300 metres in Southland and Otago.”

On Thursday, the front weakens but will affect much of the North Island with isolated showers until evening when a ridge of high pressure starts to build over New Zealand.

“This will be welcomed improvement compared to the weekend just gone,” says Lee.

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