As the 2018 draws to a close, Metservice forecasters are keeping a sharp eye out for best places to ring in the New Year.

“New Year’s Eve brings a mixed bag of weather, with a slow moving front forecast to lie over the central South Island while high pressure and westerlies dominates to the north,” says Meteorologist Rob Kerr. “This means the sunniest weather will be in places east of major mountain ranges away from that front. In particular Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, coastal Bay of Plenty and Nelson are set to see a fine end to 2019,” he adds.

As the sun sets on 2018 no one wants the weather to rain on their parade and for those eastern areas of the North Island and upper South Island conditions will remain dry.

Though the Severe Weather Watch for heavy rain over parts of Westland and Fiordland is set to expire Monday morning, rain will continue to affect western parts of the South Island into the New Year, with cloud and patchy drizzle developing as far north as Auckland by midnight. Scattered showers will dampen eastern parts of the lower South Island New Year’s Eve, with thunderstorms possible in North Otago and parts of Dunedin during Monday afternoon and evening.

As 2019 gets underway, cloud over the North Island will break up Tuesday morning, eventually resulting in a few showers about the Central High Country later in the day. For the South Island, rain will continue to fall on the West Coast, while warm northwest winds flush out any morning cloud in the east, but scattered showers are expected later in the day.

Warnings are about taking action:
• When severe weather is imminent or is occurring
• Issued only when required
• Recommendation: ACT
Watches are about being alert:
• When severe weather is possible but not sufficiently imminent or certain for a Warning to be issued
• Issued only when required
• Recommendation: BE READY
Outlooks are about looking ahead:
• To provide advance information on possible future Watches and/or Warnings
• Issued routinely once or twice a day
• Recommendation: PLAN

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