Wet, windy weather set to stay for most of the week

While the mercury continues to rise, Taranaki residents are being warned to brace themselves for another deluge of rain to start the week.

The MetService issued a heavy rain warning for Mt Taranaki and a heavy rain watch for the rest of the region yesterday morning.

The warning covered a

50-hour period, from 9am on Monday until 11am on Wednesday, and forecast between

200mm and 250mm to fall on the mountain at peak intensities of up to 20mm an hour.

While the west coast is preparing for another wet week, some parts of the country, including Hawke’s Bay, Canterbury and Northland, will enjoy scorching summer heat with temperatures set to soar to 30 degrees Celsius.

Twelve days ago, on November 25, hours of constant rain caused slips, surface flooding and traffic chaos around the region.

Meteorologist Lewis Ferris said the wet, windy weather was because of a very warm and humid air mass approaching from the north-west and warned residents to keep their umbrellas and raincoats handy.

‘‘It just becomes quite static in terms of moving north or south. It just seems to sit and situate around the central area of New Zealand,’’ Ferris said.

‘‘It comes in waves over the next couple of days. So although, there might be periods of where the rain eases, it looks like there will just be another wave in behind that.’’

Ferris said it was unusual for a 50-hour warning to be issued.

‘‘It’s really a wet and windy reign of weather where there will not be too much letting up in the coming days.’’

With temperatures expected to remain in the high teens overnight in the coming days, Ferris was also forecasting people might experience difficulty sleeping in the hot and humid conditions.

‘‘If you have an AC unit it might come in handy in the next few days.’’

Ferris confirmed the east coast would enjoy the benefits of the balmy temperatures, which were forecast to reach 30C, without all the moisture.

‘‘They are unlikely to see as much wet weather.’’

There was light at the end of the tunnel however, with a southwesterly change expected on Friday or Saturday, he said.

‘‘The weekend is looking a lot nicer than what we are seeing currently.’’

SIMON O’CONNOR/ STUFF New Plymouth was looking gloomy yesterday, and a 50-hour heavy rain warning has been issued.