High Pressure to Set the Scene for the Upcoming Week

MetService News Release
15 October 2018

A ridge of high pressure building over the Tasman Sea will be the main driver for weather conditions this week.

“Sinking air over the Tasman Sea is the driving force behind this area of high pressure and should persist for most of the week so expect mainly settled and sunny conditions over New Zealand”, says MetService meteorologist Mark Bowe.

“It’s a mostly fine and sunny couple of days to start off the week for us with just some cloudy periods and the odd shower for some coastal areas.”

Late on Tuesday a frontal system will brush the lower South Island with rain and strong westerlies preceding it for those along the Far South. MetService forecasters have issued a Strong Wind Watch for westerly gales beginning Tuesday evening for Clutha, Southland near the coast and Stewart Island. Western areas of the country won’t escape getting a shower or two, and even Auckland may have a light sprinkling of wet weather for Wednesday.

“Thursday will become dry for those southern areas but the showers will move north with inland South Island areas possibly getting a shower or two”, Bowe says. The North Island will see a broad southeast flow so just the eastern areas may get the odd coastal shower there.

Bowe explains that the high pressure system will be firmly over New Zealand as we move into Friday. “It’s shaping up to be a nice end to a settled week. North to northwest winds plus the ridge over the whole country will mean some higher daytime temperatures hopefully. Many centers around New Zealand will see temperatures in the late teens and low twenties as we head into the weekend.”

This week MetService is proud to support Safer Boating Week and Maritime NZ. Recent research has shown that boaties’ safety behaviour is improving, and the number of people checking the weather before going out on the water has risen to 85%. If you’re planning any boating this weekend, make sure you stay safe and check the weather.

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