Another Wet and Windy Weekend

Another Wet and Windy Weekend - Thursday 19th July 2018

MetService News Release
Thursday 19th July 2018

After a relatively settled midweek, MetService is forecasting the return of some wetter and windier weather for the weekend. While the wettest weather is expected on for the West Coast, rain is set to spread to the North Island for Sunday. Gales and strong winds forecast for parts of New Zealand will mean another weekend with Severe Weather Warnings and Watches issued by MetService.

For the South Island, Saturday is shaping up to be the wettest day of the weekend as rain pushes into the West Coast from the Tasman Sea. While the heaviest rain is expected in the ranges of the West Coast, strong and gusty northwesterly winds will push more cloud and some rain across the Main Divide and into the east.

“The good news is it is a quieter day for the South Island on Sunday, but still with some showers and a southerly wind,” says MetService meteorologist John Law. “In the North Island the weekend begins with drier conditions beneath a short-lived ridge of higher pressure.”“It’ll be an east-west split across the North Island this weekend,” continues Law, “The best of the brightness will be out in the east for places like Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay while cloudier conditions will prevail in the West.”

During Saturday, rain is forecast to spread up from the South leading to a wet night and a wet Sunday morning, with strong northwesterly wind ahead of the rain.

“Sunday will be an improving day,” says Law, “Rain will continue to track northwards through the day leaving some brighter conditions but there will still be some showers to keep an eye out for.”

While it may not be beach weather, if you were planning on heading to the coast over the next couple of days it is good to keep in mind that western and southern coasts are expecting a long period swell. This means that rogue large waves are possible which have the potential to catch people offguard.

“This weekend is another great example of the wettest weather in the west and the strongest winds in the east,” says Law, “Unfortunately, it’s another weekend to keep up with the latest forecasts and Severe Weather Watches and Warnings,” he advises.

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