Wet And Windy Weather Coming
Wet And Windy Weather Coming
MetService meteorologists have issued several severe weather warnings and watches to cover a period of wind and rain for the next few days.
The cause of these prolonged gales is a deep low-pressure system that has formed in the South Tasman Sea. Its normal progress to the east has been blocked by an anticyclone and so this system will be affecting New Zealand's weather for several days.
"The first part of this sequence",
commented MetService Weather
Ambassador, Bob McDavitt,
"will be vigorous northerlies in Northland tonight and a
rain band sweeping across the North Island on Friday
morning. Heavy rain is forecast for Westland during Friday,
and then the wind should set in. These unstable west to
northwest winds are likely to be strongest between Taupo and
Canterbury. They should be accompanied by squally
thunderstorms coming and going, especially over the Tararua
ranges, with some spilling over the Alps into the Canterbury
and Otago headwaters."
McDavitt urged those who could be affected by wet and windy weather to make adequate preparations. "If you are travelling then allow extra time for possible delays. Double-check the weather forecast."