Warning to holidaymakers as heavy rain and wind due to hit

It is expected to get “cloudier, wetter and windier” in parts of Aotearoa as low-pressure moves in from the north and the west.

Holidaymakers out in tents have been warned to be extra prepared for heavy rain and windy weather starting today.

MetService meteorologist John Law said for much of the festive period the weather had been dominated by a large area of high pressure – giving rise to generally dry and settled conditions. But this week the high gave way to a more active area of low pressure moving in from the north and west.

The areas most likely to be impacted by this area of low pressure are those in the north and west.

“For the North Island, places like Northland to the Bay of Plenty could find some heavy rainfall from around Wednesday and on the South Island, it will be areas such as Golden Bay and down the West Coast,” Law said.

Law said one positive of the low pressure would be some higher temperatures again by the end of the week, in particular places like Whanganui which would see highs of 26C or 27C for many days this week.

“And those temperatures will also be picking up on the South Island as well, especially in the South for places like Alexandra and Wanaka where highs could reach 28C and Invercargill won’t be far behind with forecast maximums of 26C on Wednesday.”

According to WeatherWatch.co.nz and RuralWeather, winds of between 30 to 65km/h around some eastern beaches / coastal areas were forecast until Friday.

“There may be some localised areas, mostly from the very rural north of Auckland to Cape Reinga, where winds may reach over 80km/ h and above, which is gale force and approaching severe gale.”

WeatherWatch.co.nz head forecaster Philip Duncan said winds would be blustery in exposed areas but because this was not a storm the straight line squash zone winds meant hills and ranges would bring shelter to some parts of the north.

“Windier east and northeast winds might even slide down the eastern side of Canterbury.

“This isn’t technically a storm for New Zealand, but for those in tents and awnings the windy weather can be a bit of an issue and we can’t rule out pockets of severe weather here and there.

“Advance notice gives people plenty of time to get some extra pegs, sort out where to put up tents/ awnings and where to park vehicles in front of tents.

“Generally speaking winds peak around Wednesday and Thursday and then rain and showers will develop in the days after with isolated heavy falls.”

Duncan said as much as 70 to 100mm of rain might fall in some northern and western areas in the coming week - mostly later this week and next weekend.

“Not everyone has rain - those in the east from Gisborne southwards don’t see much.”

Duncan said the offshore depression would also generate dangerous rips and large waves - even if the weather on land was calm and dry.

“This may become more of an issue for upper North Island beaches mid-next week. Hopefully, for many people, this will be a brief annoyance rather than a major headache.

“The low is expected to fall apart in the NZ area late this coming week bringing a few days of broken-up rain bands and heavy showers for holidaymakers and farmers.”

While Northland, Auckland and Coromandel was partly cloudy with a few showers yesterday, Rom Waikato to Taranaki and the Bay of Plenty and the central high country, there were cloudy periods.

For Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa, it was mostly cloudy with showers, mainly north of Dannevirke.

The weather is mainly fine from Whanganui to Wellington, but some cloudy periods are expected, with the odd shower near the eastern ranges.

All of the South Island is mainly fine but areas of cloud exist. Isolated showers can be expected in the ranges from late morning.