More rain due ahead of Christmas
Do not expect the rain-free run to continue in the lead up to Christmas Day.
While summer seemed to have finally arrived in South Canterbury on Monday, weather forecasters are saying it will be shortlived.
"It’s the same for everywhere really. New Zealand weather’s been a bit chaotic," MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr told Stuff.
A strong wind watch is in place for the Canterbury High Country. Northwesterlies were expected to rise to gale in exposed places overnight Monday, but ease late Tuesday afternoon.
The MetService says the watch was for the possibility these gales may become severe, gusting to 120 kilometres per hour in exposed places.
The MetService is warning cooler temperatures are set to arrive with mid-week rain and southerlies after a predicted high of 27 degrees Celsius on Tuesday.
Rain is then forecast to at least Christmas Eve, but MetService’s 10-day forecast says Timaru will be partly cloudy, with little wind and 23C on December 25.
"Looking through to Christmas Day, we’ve got a ridge that’s moving over late on Christmas Eve for Timaru, so it should be a nice day for Timaru with some northwesterlies, bringing some warm weather with it, similar to Monday and Tuesday."
Kerr said while a 10-day forecast can be subject to change, forecasters were confident the eastern part of the South Island would see warm northwest winds Christmas Day.
‘‘At this stage it looks like Timaru’s going to have a really nice Christmas Day.’’ Rob Kerr, meteorologist