Warmer days ahead in the east

Warmer days ahead in the east

The cold weather that started the week gives way to gradually rising temperatures as northeasterly winds persist for the next couple of days.A front, which approaches New Zealand from the west, brings rain with some possibly heavy falls from this afternoon. The rain will spread across the North Island on Wednesday, while eastern portions of the South Island are expected to remain mostly dry.

A Severe Weather Warning is in place for heavy rain across southern Westland and the ranges of northwest Nelson, from this afternoon up totomorrow afternoon. A Severe Weather Watch for heavy rain today covers the remaining parts of the South Island's west coast, eastward to the Main Divide, and for tomorrow and Thursday for the Coromandel Peninsula and the western Bay of Plenty. Thunderstorms with heavy rain associated with the frontal system are likely about the west coast of the South Island tomorrow, mainly south of Westport.

A Severe Weather Watch for wind is also in place, for northerly gales becoming severe in Fiordland today and along coastal Buller and northern Westland early tomorrow morning.

The front clears the country on Thursday, but showery conditions will remain as the flow turns more southerly. A low pressure system deepens over the Tasman Sea towards the end of the week and moves over the North Island this weekend, bringing more rain, wind, and a return of some colder temperatures across the country. Parts of the South Island could also see some snow to low levels during Saturday.

Keep up to date with the latest forecasts and any watches/warnings atmetservice.com or on mobile devices at m.metservice.com. You can also follow our updates on MetService TV, at MetService New Zealand on Facebook, @metservice on Twitter and at blog.metservice.com.

ENDS

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