Threat of more cyclones in March

MetService says warm seas and active tropics will bring further downpours and muggy days next month

Muggy weather, lots of rain and more cyclones are expected in March as the tropics take control of our weather systems. The revelations will come as a bitter pill for many Kiwis after the washout 2018 summer.

There is no reprieve in sight from this temperamental weather, according to MetService meteorologist Georgina Griffiths, who says we can’t rule out further tropical cyclones in the third month of the year.

Auckland has been drenched with more than one-third of the normal annual rainfall already this year, but no end is in sight, with the upper North Island likely to see a wet start to March.

“I would say the risks are slightly elevated for New Zealand this year because we have really warm seas around the country and we have active tropics at the moment,” Griffiths said.

The intense cloak of humidity over the North Island is set to continue.

But it is not all doom and gloom, with more settled weather expected into the second week of March.

“We have had a muggy and hot February, of course, while we might see a cooler few days if Gita passes by, we look likely to return to that warmth as we enter March,” Griffiths said.

“Warmth wise, New Zealand looks likely to see a mild March for two reasons: lots of northeasterlies over the country and that mugginess may be on the cards at least to start the month, and also the marine heatwave.

“Seas around New Zealand remain unusually warm, so we might see cooler spells for a few days, but a mild March and possibly a wetter one for the upper north.”

A string of major weather events have made for a wet start to the year — with Niwa reporting total rainfall counts for the country so far have exceeded normal amounts by double in some places.

Greymouth is taking the lead with its total rainfall in 2018 so far sitting at 45mm, followed closely by Hamilton with 418mm — which exceeds the rainfall count for the same period last year by 216 per cent.

Nelson and Whangarei have also had a damp start to the year, respectively sitting at 376mm and 375mm of rain this year. The Tasman District is up 269 per cent from last year’s figure of 140mm.

Auckland has already endured a sodden 287mm — 216 per cent of its normal rainfall for January-February.

Tropical Cyclone Gita is scheduled to pass south of New Caledonia on Saturday before travelling south into the Tasman Sea.

Niwa weather forecaster Chris Brandolino said any impact from the storm in New Zealand was expected on Monday or Tuesday.

“But ahead of that, on the weekend especially, there will be some pretty big swells appearing on the upper North Island and the West Coast.

“Anyone at the beach, especially on Sunday, should expect larger waves than usual and stronger rip currents.”