Rain, gales forecast to continue

Wild weather that swept across the country yesterday is just a taste of more “chaos” to come. Parts of the country, including Auckland, were lashed by thunderstorms, downpours and gusty winds, some gale force, and the foul winter weather was due to continue overnight, especially in the west of the country.

MetService last night had heavy rain warnings for the Tararua Ranges, with 40mm to 60mm forecast.

Westerly gales were also expected to become severe about exposed parts of Hawke’s Bay south of Napier, the Tararua district and Wairarapa before easing this morning.

There was also a thunderstorm watch for much of the western half of the North Island between Waikato and Wairarapa, along with Westland and the top of the South Island.

Overnight snow was forecast on most South Island alpine passes and the Desert Rd.

And on top of that, heavy westerly swells and large waves were expected about western coasts of both islands.

WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said the country was caught in a strong southwesterly airflow.

“[Today] we’ll see another surge of heavy showers around most of the central and western part of the North Island . . . there’s going to be pockets of severe weather across the country 15C. time. 15C. off and on for the next three days. There is high pressure to the north of the country so sometimes highs can come down and settle things down.”

But the at-times nasty conditions were not a weather event, Duncan said. That was coming.

“This is all building up to polar charge for the start of August.’’

Starting on Saturday and continuing to Monday, the polar air would sweep over the country, bringing snow to alpine passes in both islands, although falls were unlikely to reach sea level.

The polar “sprinter” was expected to peter out by Wednesday.