End of the golden weather
After nearly a week of sunshine, Auckland is expected to be hit by winds up to 100km/h and heavy rain.
The MetService has issued a severe wind warning for Auckland from this evening until dawn tomorrow. In addition, the forecaster has issued a “severe rain watch” for Auckland tonight.
“The rain could come close to warning criteria which, for example, would be something like 60mm in nine hours,” the MetService’s Erick Brenstrum said.
“These gale-force winds, which could gust up to 100km/h, are ahead of a front, which should be crossing over Auckland around midnight. That will bring north or northeasterly winds but those won’t be so strong.”
Brenstrum said most of the country had enjoyed four or five days of fine weather this week, with the exception of Fiordland, which had seen heavy rain.
The poor weather would be followed by a southerly change, which would bring calmer weather late tomorrow. This would result in colder weather in the south early in the week and in the north on Thursday or Friday, Brenstrum said.
Although poor weather was forecast for today for much of the North Island, Christchurch and Dunedin were expected to be fine.
Much of the country was expected to be hit by either rain or scattered showers tomorrow.
By Tuesday, Auckland was only expected to have scattered showers, Hamilton would be cloudy and Wellington would be cloudy with the chance of showers late in the day.
The South Island is expected to be cloudy.