Week of rain and chillier temps
After a weekend reminiscent of summer, Taranaki is now looking down the barrel of a week of rain.
A heavy rain warning was issued by MetService for Taranaki Maunga, with a further 60 to 90 millilitres of rain expected to fall between 9am and 7pm yesterday.
Meanwhile, a heavy rain watch was in place for North Taranaki, including east of the maunga, and also Waitomo, Taumarunui and Tongariro National Park until 8pm.
In South Taranaki, northerlies were strong in exposed places.
The rain and wind was set to ease yesterday evening, but the clouds were set to stay.
Today and tomorrow it will be mostly cloudy apart from the odd shower, with warm winter highs of 17 and 18 degrees Celsius.
But the rain returns on Thursday through until Sunday, this time with chillier temperatures in the mid-teens.
The rain has also meant that today’s planned return of New Plymouth’s Wind Wand has been delayed, as it is has to be delivered via helicopter.
The Len Lye sculpture has been missing from the Coastal Walkway since March while it underwent maintenance.
‘‘Unfortunately, the wet weather has meant it has been postponed. Hopefully, it will be Thursday, weather dependent,’’ a New Plymouth District Council media spokesperson said in an email.
The week of rain is a stark contrast to the weekend’s weather, where the region basked in sunshine and warm temperatures on a windless Saturday.
But don’t worry, the sun is set to return eventually next Monday, with a southeasterly wind blowing the clouds away.