Metservice: Weather Stormy Then Snowy

Stormy Then Snowy

MetService meteorologists continue to issue severe weather warnings for wind and rain, and are now also forecasting some heavy snow. A depression with central pressure below 980 hectoPascals is bringing stormy weather with it as it crosses the southern half of the North Island on Sunday evening.

"This is definitely the most significant depression we have had in months," commented MetService Weather Ambassador, Bob McDavitt. "There has already been some wind damage in Northland, Auckland, and the Bay of Plenty from its northerly gales. We've measured gusts to 138 kilometres per hour at Cape Reinga at noon on Sunday. Winds are forecast to ease from this evening as the depression moves off to the southeast of Chatham Islands."

McDavitt went on the say that a wintry outbreak is likely to grip the South Island in the wake of this depression. "Strong cold southerly winds will become reinforced and that may bring snowy condition to eastern parts on Monday. Heavy amounts of 15 to 25cm of snow are forecast to settle on the alpine passes and some snow may also settle on the landscape as low as 300 metres with sleety showers to sea level. This will pose problems to travellers and the wind-chill will make life difficult for any newly born lambs caught in the open."

McDavitt said that a new depression may deepen off the Wairarapa coast on Tuesday. "This could extend the icy grip of the southerly winds onto the south end of the North Island for a day. Things may clear on Tuesday night, so that Wednesday dawns with frosty conditions."

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