Waiting for WATI

Issued at 12:04pm 24-Mar-2006
Waiting for WATI

MetService meteorologists are waiting for Cyclone WATI to enter the Tasman Sea this weekend.

Cyclone WATI has been in the Coral Sea over the past few days. It is now forecast to take a southeast path and be between Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands by Sunday. After that its future depends on how it interacts with a large high pressure system that is crossing the south Tasman Sea.

"There are still several possible scenarios for our weather early next week," commented MetService Weather Ambassador, Bob McDavitt. "The most likely scenario at this stage is that the whole system spreads out and a frontal system forms that may bring significant northeast wind and rain to the northern North Island and maybe the northwest of the South Island on Monday and Tuesday."

McDavitt said that different computer models are still giving different outputs. "We are all waiting for WATI to sort itself out as it enters the Tasman Sea. Our latest idea of what is most likely to happen next may be found on the severe weather outlook page of our website www.metservice.com, and anyone concerned about the weather should double-check this page as the event evolves."

ENDS

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