‘Wet week’ before Christmas

A cold week is forecast for much of the country before Christmas Day delivers the gift of sun.

Fine, warm weather across much of the country on Monday meant a great start to the first week of school holidays for many, but that is about to change.

MetService has issued severe weather warnings and watches for rain and wind over the lower South Island today, as a complex low system makes its way north during the next few days. This after Waiau in North Canterbury topped the 30-degree mark yesterday with a national high of 31.8.

‘‘Hopefully there won’t be a dampening of the Christmas spirit to go with the wet weather we’ll see across New Zealand this week,’’ MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said.

A severe rain warning has been issued for parts of Westland and Fiordland, with up to 150mm of rain expected in some areas, along with a severe wind watch for inland parts of the island from the Queenstown lakes to the Canterbury high country. Rivers and streams are expected to rise rapidly, and driving conditions to be affected, especially for high-sided vehicles.

The rain will sweep over the the North Island tomorrow and Thursday, followed by showers across the whole country on Friday as the low pulls away to the east.

Further severe weather watches and warnings may be added as the low moves north.

Looking ahead to Christmas Day, the forecast for the South Island looks promising, with westerlies likely to bring cloud and showers to the west, and warm, dry winds to the east.

A trough over the north and east of the North Island is forecast to be pushed away as a ridge of high pressure over central New Zealand spreads north.

Kerr said the North Island would have generally settled conditions, but MetService was keeping a close eye on the trough to the north of the country, in case it decides to move south and put a dampener on the Christmas barbecue.