Covering period of Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd February

• More settled for the weekend after an extended period of severe weather.
• A pair of fronts bring rain to the west and south of the South Island, but rapidly weaken to a few showers as they push north.
• Blustery thunderstorms possible for Canterbury on Friday afternoon.

Five days after the flooding at Ōtorohanga began an extended period of severe weather that travelled the length of the country, conditions have eased as we move into a more settled period. Two fronts bring rain as they move up the country on Friday and later Saturday into Sunday, but rapidly weaken as they move north, with long periods of fine weather between them.

The first front travels up the country on Friday, bringing rain to southern and western areas, with thunderstorms possible for Canterbury and Banks Peninsula. MetService Meteorologist Braydon White says, “Thunderstorms look to develop from late Friday morning on a blustery southerly change, with the potential for some heavy showers and hail through the afternoon. Those in areas already affected by flooding will want to keep an eye on the rain radar.”

The front rapidly weakens to a few showers as it approaches the North Island, with eastern parts fine for the day. Those in Napier for the Art Deco Festival will experience a cracker warm, if slightly windy, summer weekend with a high of 28°C forecast for Friday.

Saturday has a fine start for much of the country, albeit with a cooler and slightly autumnal feel in the morning, as minimum temperatures drop to the low teens or even single digits for most of the country. A second front moves up the South Island, bringing more rain to the west and south, but a mostly fine day for the North Island. “Whether celebrating the Lunar New Year, enjoying the Auckland Rainbow Pride Parade, or gearing up for the NZ football derby between the Phoenix and Auckland FC in Wellington, those in the North Island will have plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy the sun,” says White.

Sunday sees that front move north and weaken, with a few showers for the west and south of both islands and some strong winds for Southland from a passing trough. White says, “Round the Bays in Christchurch looks to have a fine day with a pleasantly moderate high of 22°C, perfect running weather.” A narrow ridge comes to dominate the country bringing more settled weather as the weekend draws to a close.

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