More Rain To Come

29-Mar-2007

More Rain To Come

MetService meteorologists have updated the heavy rain warning for Northland, Auckland and Coromandel, the Bay of Plenty, north Gisborne and for northwest Nelson, and maintain a weather watch on the Mount Taranaki area.

"The reason this rain has lasted so long is because of the large anticyclone over Chatham Islands", commented MetService weather ambassador, Bob McDavitt. "This stationary high-pressure centre is what we call a blocking high. Northern New Zealand is now in the region where subtropical moisture flows down from the northeast."

McDavitt added that in the 24 hours ending 9am Thursday Kaikohe measured 150mm of rain and Kerikeri 268mm. "In these places the average March rainfall is around 100 mm, so they've had much more rain than needed to green the grass."

"Mixed in with the steadier rain we are forecasting some short intense bursts. The heaviest falls are likely to be over the Coromandel and Kaimai ranges tonight and around the Bay of Plenty and north Gisborne area during Friday. Some heavy rain is also expected on the ranges of northwest Nelson through to early Friday morning."

This sort of rain makes driving hazardous because of the water on the road and poor visibility. It is also causing rivers and streams in Northland to rise rapidly.

"We expect the moist northeast flow to finally move off New Zealand during Friday and Saturday, followed by a trough of low pressure with unsettled weather."

ENDS

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