MetService says Sunday could get “interesting”, with a “very active, fast-moving” front expected to bring heavy rain, snow and severe winds.
Strong wind and heavy rain watches have been issued for the lower North Island as a front moves northwards over the country.
Meteorologist Heather Keats said Sunday was forecast to get “really interesting”.
“Very active, fast-moving front, so we’re likely to see sort of brief bursts of heavy rain with it. Also, some brief heavy snow. So we’re talking about snow down to above 500m for Southland, Otago, and Canterbury on Sunday. Strong winds as well.
“That’s going to be the standout feature. So all the way from Cape Reinga down Northland, Auckland, Coromandel, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, the central North Island, Marlborough Sounds, Kaikōura, all the way down to Dunedin, Clutha and the Chatham Islands.”
“We might see a heavy snow watch for the South Island, and we’re likely to see road snowfall warnings associated with that.
“For the higher passes, there will be watches and warnings for the wind. We’re talking southwesterlies for the South Island, westerlies up top, and northwesterlies for central North Island. The front’s quite fast moving, so yes, there will be brief heavy rain, but it’s unlikely to meet the thresholds for any watches or warnings.
“But if you’re travelling, it could be problematic. So it’s definitely going to be a day to plan if you’re travelling for school holidays.”
However, the wintry blast was expected to be short-lived, with calmer weather and more settled conditions returning from Monday next week.
Keats said this followed a week of up and down temperatures, including sub-zero figures recorded for some across the North Island overnight.
“It was freezing overnight. Coldest spots were central North Island, at 5am [it was] -5C for Matea, -2C for Taupō, so there were frosts everywhere,” she said.
Keats said this weekend should return “to more normal temperatures”.
“What we would expect to see this time of the year. Nothing to stand out until kind of tomorrow. Eastern spots of the South Island including Ashburton and Timaru, they’re going to hit 21C. That’s 6C above average for this time of the year.
“Then on Sunday, Hawke’s Bay will hit 23C. But cruelly, Sunday night they’ll drop down to 3C. So that’s a 20C difference,” she explained.
She said things were “pretty active today” too.
“Showery, maybe thundery too. Just a sneaky little front moving up the South Island. Tomorrow, much the same westerly flow.
“We’ve got showers moving in from the west for the North Island and showers all over for the South Island.”
Keats added that the risk for thunderstorms was “low in the morning for the west coast”.
“But then things get interesting for the North Island this afternoon, with some daytime heating might help a couple bubble up.”
Full list of weather watches
Heavy Rain Watch
The Tararua Range – 10 hours from 5am to 3pm Sunday.
Strong Wind Watch
Hawke’s Bay south of Hastings, the Tararua District, and Wairarapa about and north of Masterton – seven hours from 9am to 4pm Sunday.
Horowhenua Kapiti Coast, Wellington, Wairarapa south of Masterton, and the Marlborough Sounds – four hours from 9am to 1pm Sunday.
The morning’s headlines in 90 seconds, including what caused an Air New Zealand engine to catch fire, and why Liam Lawson’s swearing at Lewis Hamilton. (Source: TVNZ)