Second batch of bad weather on its way

MetService News Release
Thursday 14 July 2016

Many New Zealanders experienced wild weather overnight as a front brought heavy rain, severe gales, and snow to higher levels. A band of thunderstorms swept through the Kapiti Coast in the early hours of Thursday morning, bringing down trees with wind gusts of around 100 km/h.

Fortunately the front that brought the bad weather has now moved away to the northeast of the country. “Unfortunately the respite will be short lived, with another front forecast to cross the South Island on Friday morning and the North Island on Friday afternoon and evening,” said meteorologist Emma Blades.

MetService is forecasting northwest gales ahead of the front and another burst of heavy rain for western parts of both islands. The largest accumulations are expected to be about the ranges of Westland, where a Severe Weather Warning remains in force. The Warning also covers heavy rain for the Canterbury headwaters, which could cause rivers and streams in the Canterbury region to rise rapidly, along with severe gales in Canterbury and Wairarapa.

Once this front has passed over, on Friday the country will be left in a strong, cold southwest flow which will continue into the weekend. “The cold flow is expected to bring showers to many places, with snow flurries down to 500 metres in Otago and the far South on Saturday morning,” commented Ms Blades. “This looks to be the main weather pattern through next week as well, so it’s certainly going to feel very wintery with changeable conditions,” added Ms Blades.

Official Severe Weather Watches and Warnings are reviewed and re-issued by MetService at least every twelve hours, and more often if necessary. To get the most up to date information on severe weather around the country, or any other forecasts, see metservice.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 and @MetServiceWARN on Twitter and at blog.metservice.com

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