5 February 2015

Waitangi Day and the long weekend

Cool southwest winds have returned to the country in time for Waitangi day bringing with them some colder temperatures and showery conditions for parts of New Zealand. Heading into the weekend, the showers look set to become more isolated as higher pressure builds over from the west.

It has been a week of fluctuating temperatures with maximums into the thirties for many spots, but the change in wind direction has heralded unseasonal weather for some. "Looking at temperatures on Thursday morning it is hard to believe we are in Summer," MetService Meteorologist John Law commented. "Minimum temperatures at Christchurch fell to 3C, almost 25C less than their maximum on Wednesday." The cooler temperatures have also resulted in some wintry feeling weather with reports of snowfall about some of the higher roads in Fiordland.

Southwesterly winds are set to continue into Waitangi Day bringing a scattering of showers and a cooler feeling Friday. At Te Tii Marae in Waitangi the showers are likely to be few and far between, with the showers clearing for the rest of the weekend. Temperatures are forecast to reach 24C in the Bay of Islands. Showers are in the forecasts for many locations on Waitangi Day, especially those exposed to the south, but these should become more isolated through the day with more fine and settled conditions returning for the weekend.

Friday also marks the start of the Wellington Sevens, with cool blustery southwesterlies bringing the chance of an early shower on Friday, but much of the day looks fine, albeit cooler than of late. The odd shower is possible for the late night revellers into Saturday morning, but fine weather returns forSaturday with the winds turning northwesterly in the evening.

Over the Rimutaka Range in Martinborough the weather looks good for the fair. There is a chance of an early shower on Saturday, but much of the day is set to be fine and dry with light winds picking up in the evening.

Keep up to date with the latest forecasts and any watches/warnings atmetservice.com or on mobile devices at m.metservice.com. You can also follow our updates on MetService TV, at MetService New Zealand on Facebook, @metservice on Twitter and at blog.metservice.com.

ENDS

© Scoop Media