Covering period of Thu 04 - Mon 08 September

• West-northwest breezes and passing cloud for the final two days of Zespri AIMS games in Tauranga
• Auckland starts off wet on Saturday but come kick off there’s just a risk of brief rain with chilly southwest winds
• Father’s Day is a bit of a mixed bag; some rain spreads up the country with southwesterly winds
• A blood moon is due in the western sky around 6am on Monday morning

MetService has issued a number of Severe Weather Forecasts for strong northwest winds and heavy rain as an active frontal system moves up the country while the working week winds down.

The most likely severe weather is about the Canterbury High Country and headwaters with Orange Warnings for northwest winds and heavy rain, but there’s several Watches for Heavy Rain and Strong winds around the country.

The heavy rain has kicked off for the west coast of the South Island today (Thursday) with a few thunderstorms making it on land around Fiordland and southern Westland. Western areas are most at risk of rain today but as we head into Friday the wet weather extends northward with Wellington seeing passing showers through the day and the main frontal rain band arriving at night.

Thunderstorms are forecast to mostly remain around southern and western parts of the South Island, however, some may sneak across the alps into the likes of Queenstown Lakes. The thunderstorms bring risk of hail, blustery winds and potential snow down to around 400m.

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MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris warns, “Much of the North Island will wake up to rain on Saturday but it will be tending drier as the front keeps on trucking away to the northeast. There’s not much reprieve though – a cool southwest change moves onto Southland Saturday evening and zips up the country. It might be breakfast in bed rather than a round of golf for Dad on Sunday.”

Northwest winds make for some warm temperatures in eastern areas today and tomorrow. These highs are short lived as the southwest winds remind us that spring is a time of yoyoing temperatures. Christchurch is going for 18°C on Friday and 11°C on Saturday.

A brief ridge of high pressure is forecast across the country on Monday morning so there’s a good chance for many to spot the blood moon.

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