Weather Workshop: 5 day forecast for NZ

Issued Tuesday, August 24, 1999 at 11.30am

The long range forecast from Weather Workshop for all of New Zealand to midnight Saturday:

Situation: A southwest flow covers the country today and tomorrow. On Thursday a high in the Tasman Sea pushes a ridge onto New Zealand and a northwest flow develops over the lower South Island. On Friday the high lies over the north of the North Island and a westerly flow covers the remainder of the country. Saturday sees a slow moving front over the lower South Island as the high remains over the remainder of the country.

NORTHLAND, AUCKLAND, WAIKATO, WAITOMO, TAUMARANUI and TARANAKI: Cloud and fine breaks with a few showers and southwest winds today. Tomorrow a mix of cloud and fine breaks. Thursday, mostly fine with light frosts in sheltered places. Cloud and showers developing south of Waitomo on Friday but remaining mostly fine elsewhere. Fine everywhere on Saturday.

COROMANDEL PENINSULA, BAY of PLENTY/ROTORUA and TAUPO: Mainly fine today. A few cloudy periods tomorrow then fine again through until Saturday.

TAIHAPE, WANGANUI and MANAWATU: Mainly fine today through until Thursday. Cloud increasing Friday with showers and westerlies then becoming fine again on Saturday.

GISBORNE, HAWKES BAY and WAIRARAPA: Fine today. Tomorrow, coastal cloud and a few light showers clearing and becoming mainly fine. Fine Thursday. High cloud developing south of Napier on Friday with westerlies otherwise fine. Fine everywhere on Saturday.

WELLINGTON: Mostly fine today. A few cloudy periods tomorrow morning with the odd shower possible then clearing and becoming fine. Fine Thursday. A few cloudy periods on Friday with northerly winds then becoming fine again on Saturday.

NELSON: Mainly fine today through until Thursday. Cloud increasing Friday with a few showers about the western ranges. Becoming fine again on Saturday.

MARLBOROUGH and CANTERBURY: Mainly fine today. A few brief coastal showers clearing tomorrow morning then fine through till Thursday. Mainly fine Friday but a few showers spread into Canterbury after dark with westerly winds tending southwest. Mostly fine on Saturday.

BULLER, WESTLAND and FIORDLAND; Showers and fine breaks today. A few showers about Fiordland tomorrow but only a few cloudy periods elsewhere. On Thursday, fine apart from a few cloudy periods and west to northwest winds. Patchy rain about Fiordland on Friday with cloudy skies elsewhere. Patchy rain spreading to most places on Saturday.

OTAGO and SOUTHLAND: Showers abut the south coast spreading further north tonight. Becoming mainly fine inland tomorrow but remaining mostly cloudy about the coast. Mainly fine on Thursday but high cloud on Friday with patchy rain developing about the western ranges. Rain at times in Southland on Saturday with scattered falls reaching Otago.

CHATHAM ISLANDS: Cold and showery today through until Thursday with gusty southwest winds. On Friday, a mix of cloud and fine breaks with westerlies developing. Showers and southwesterlies redevelop on Saturday.