Spring is Whistling in

Issued at 01:44pm 30-Aug-2006

Spring is Whistling in

For Thursday, MetService is forecasting strong westerly winds over southern and eastern parts of the South Island and the south of the North Island as a deep low-pressure system passes by in the Southern Ocean.

Gusty and damaging winds are expected over Southland on Thursday, reaching a peak during the afternoon. These winds have the potential to damage trees and power lines, and to lift roofing iron. Driving is likely to be hazardous, especially for motorcycles and high sided trucks. Gusty conditions are also forecast for inland parts of Otago and Canterbury, and eastern parts of the North Island between Eketahuna and Havelock North.

"These westerly winds are a sure sign that spring is whistling in", said MetService Weather Ambassador. Bob McDavitt. "There now seems to be a change in our weather pattern with more mobility, more fronts, fewer southerlies and fewer frosts."

McDavitt went on to say that August brought drenching rain to the North Island on its first and last weekends, and polar chilled southerlies to eastern Southland on Monday 14th and Monday 21st.

"The cold wet hand of winter is now being replaced by a week of warming westerlies arriving just in time to usher in the months of spring. Temperatures in coastal Canterbury will be almost reaching twenty degrees this weekend, and warm dry winds will be welcome over the still soggy soils between Wairarapa and Wanganui and around Wellington."

ENDS

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