Strong winds on radar but temperatures set to heat up

Parts of New Zealand will continue to experience heavy winds this week, although it will be nothing like the weekend gales that reached almost 200km/h.

MetService yesterday recorded an incredible gust of 196km/h at its Mid Dome station in exposed country near Lumsden, Southland.

The wind wreaked havoc over the South Island, keeping emergency services stretched as power lines came down, roofs were lifted and even a car was overturned. Gusts of 150km/h to 160km/h were recorded in Canterbury, Otago and Southland.

While the high winds might continue this week, they won’t be as strong and temperatures will heat up too.

“The week ahead will continue to be windy at times for southern and central New Zealand. A severe weather watch is in place for potentially severe northwest gales [today] around inland Southland, Otago and Canterbury, and also parts of Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay, possibly returning [tomorrow],” said MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr. “However, it will not be as severe as the winds we had on Sunday and will be a mostly dry week for most people, with plenty of sun around for the last week of the school holidays.”

The northern part of the country is predicted to bask in temperatures of more than 20C this week.

Temperatures will also be up into the mid-20s today and tomorrow for eastern parts of both islands as warm northwesterlies blow through. How- ever, a cooler southwest change tomorrow will cause a drop and bring a few showers to most.

“It’s only the West Coast that misses out on the mostly dry conditions, but even there it is a changeable weather week, rather than a wet weather week,” Mr Kerr said.

MetService also sounded a warning to any would-be beach-goers to check coastal or recreational forecasts as large waves wash up on the country’s shoreline.