Mild temperatures, but wet weather on the way for many - Monday 20 June 2016

Monday 20 June 2016

Tonight will be the longest night of the year in New Zealand, and Tuesday will be the shortest day with the Winter Solstice occurring at 10:34 am. Despite the low sunshine hours, temperatures are still above average for June, and this trend continues for much of the week. Northerly winds dragging warm air across New Zealand are the reason for the mild temperatures. However, the warm air moving down from the north will also bring wet weather to many by mid-week.

A front, currently moving eastwards across the Tasman Sea, will approach New Zealand on Tuesday night. It will then cross the country during Wednesday and into Thursday morning, bringing rain to many places. Northern and western areas will feel the greatest effects, with some heavy falls and even a chance of thunderstorms. A Severe Weather Warning has already been issued for the ranges of Westland from Tuesday evening through to midday Wednesday. The ranges in the north of the South Island are also under Severe Weather Watch, and more areas may be included as the front approaches New Zealand.

“After this front has moved across New Zealand, a trough is then expected to affect New Zealandon Thursday,” said MetService Meteorologist Claire Flynn. “This will bring further rain, though again northern and western areas will see most of it.”

A southerly change is then expected to sweep northwards up the country on Thursday evening andFriday morning, bringing rain to some eastern areas and cooler temperatures. This is followed by a ridge of high pressure later on Friday, which should settle the weather temporarily before the next feature approaches.

“Towards the end of the week, a low pressure system is expected to deepen across the Tasman, and track towards New Zealand next weekend,” Flynn explained. “This low pressure system is likely to be significant, bringing rain and strong winds to many parts of New Zealand next weekend. We will continue to monitor this low as it develops, with updates for the public available on our website as always.”

ENDS

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