Powerful waves to hit West Coast
The country’s western coastline was predicted to be hit by powerful waves on News Year’s Day.
MetService is warning boaties and beachgoers to be careful as swells will quickly increase in height throughout the day, and could catch people by surprise.
The waves, which will be powerful and moving fast, have been generated by a big storm south of Australia.
Waves will be up to three metres high, but it was the rapid increase in height that had caused the MetService to warn boaties.
MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said the waves would get more frequent during the day. They were likely to stick around for most of the week.
‘‘Be very mindful that whatever you see the ocean doing, expect it to be two to three times bigger.’’
He said people heading across relatively calm West Coast bars needed to be aware the waves would be much higher when they could potentially be coming back to shore.
The MetService was not advising people to stay off the water, but wanted them to be prepared for the waves to worsen throughout the day.
The waves would bring bigger rips and people should make sure they swam in patrolled areas. People fishing off rocks should also take care.
The first day of 2018 was expected to bring a mixed bag of weather across the country, but the best place to be was the Southern Lakes area, Otago and Southland. The region was expecting a dry and sunny day with temperatures in the 20s. Wanaka was expected to reach 27 degrees Celsius and Queenstown 24C.
A few showers were predicted in Auckland on New Year’s Day and every day this week, but temperatures would remain in the mid 20s.
Morning showers were expected in Wellington on Monday and the city would be wet every day until Monday, January 8, according to the MetService.
There was a chance of morning showers in Christchurch today but the city would be otherwise fine with a high of 24C. Christchurch temperatures would reach mid to high 20s tomorrow through Thursday, before three days of rain.
Rain was predicted on the West Coast every day until January 7, but temperatures would remain in the early 20s.