WIRES:

MetService Warn Of Another Front

Monday, 23 February 2004, 2:36 pm
Press Release: MetService

Issued by MetService at 01:17pm 23-Feb-2004
MetService warn of another front

MetService meteorologists have issued severe weather warnings for heavy rain for Taranaki and the central North Island high country tonight, and are keeping a severe weather watch for the Tararua ranges, Fiordland and the Westland ranges.

"This rain comes from two rain bands joining together", commented MetService Weather Ambassador, Bob McDavitt. "The highest and most intense rain falls are expected on the northern slopes of Mount Taranaki, but the central high country of the North Island is likely to receive up to 80mm of rain over already saturated ground. After this front, there should be rising pressures. In fact, at over 1024 hectoPascals, this'll be the best anticyclone since Waitangi Day. It is expected to move across New Zealand from Wednesday to Friday, bringing a welcome period of settled weather towards the end of a tempestuous month."

However meteorologists are already casting a wary eye towards the north as a tropical weather system winds up near Vanuatu. "From this we expect there'll be a deepening low in the Tasman Sea by the end of the week. This has the potential to affect the weather in northern districts this weekend".

Updated details of this incoming rain are available from the http://www.metservice.co.nz website.

ENDS

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