More Wet-and-Windy Yo-Yo Weather

Issued by MetService at 12:37pm 26-Feb-2004
More Wet-and-Windy Yo-Yo Weather

MetService meteorologists have issued a special weather advisory as they monitor two storms which are expected to bring further heavy rain and strong winds to New Zealand over the weekend.

"It looks like we are in for a tempestuous ending to a tempestuous month", commented MetService Weather Ambassador, Bob McDavitt. "Our Yo-Yo summer is turning into a Yo-Yo autumn".

By late Saturday a deepening low in the Tasman Sea is expected to cross the South Island. This low and its associated front are likely to bring a period of heavy rain on Saturday to the west of the South Island, Nelson, Marlborough, Wellington and the Tararua Ranges, and also that part of the North Island north of a line from Taranaki to East Cape. Heaviest falls of around 150 mm are being forecast for the hills and ranges from Mount Taranaki to Ruapehu to East Cape, and this includes the headwaters of the Whanganui and the Rangitikei rivers. At this stage forecasters are predicting less rain over the lower lying areas of Wanganui and Manawatu where 20-30mm of rain is possible. Northerly gales are also forecast for many parts of northern and central New Zealand ahead of the front.

On Sunday morning this low should move away. Later on Sunday or early on Monday another depression, formed from the spread-out remnants of tropical cyclone Ivy, should pass over or just east of the North Island. Another period of heavy rain and damaging winds is possible, particularly over the north and east of the North Island. The actual track of this storm is uncertain at this stage and people are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts.

After a brief clearance in the weather on Monday there may well be another low developing in the Tasman Sea on Tuesday.

Updated details of this incoming wind and rain are available from the www.metservice.co.nz website.

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