Active Weather For The Weekend And Start Of The School Holidays

MetService is forecasting a wet leadup to and start of the school holidays, as a low pressure centre approaches Aotearoa New Zealand from the Tasman Sea, sending a broad band of rain over the country on Thursday and Friday. The band travels quickly to the east, but on Saturday a fresh burst of rain arrives with a cold front from the south, spreading up the country into Sunday. Later on Monday, another feature arrives from the north, bringing yet more rain to northern and eastern parts of the North Island.

MetService has issued a slew of Severe Weather Watches and Warnings for rain, wind, and snow over the next few days, and the Severe Weather Outlook is also busy.

MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker explains, “With a low moving in from the west, and fronts approaching from the south and north, all bringing rain, we’ve got a pretty active run of days ahead of us.”

In the next few days, inland parts of the South Island will see significant amounts of snow. On Friday morning, parts of Canterbury and Otago are forecast to receive snow down to 400 metres, and to 500 metres on Saturday. Snow is also possible through to Arthur’s Pass, albeit at higher levels.

“Although the ski fields will see a welcome top-up just before the school holidays, the trick will be finding a settled day to enjoy the snow,” adds Bakker.

Central and northern parts of the North Island will have particularly saturated ground after Thursday and Friday, so the rainfall on Monday and Tuesday carries additional risk of flooding and slips.

“At this stage it’s too early to give specific predictions, so MetService advises keeping up to date with the latest forecasts at www.metservice.com. Closer to the event, Severe Weather Watches and Warnings will be issued as needed,” warns Bakker.

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