Weather a case of extremes
Extreme weather is on the way, with temperatures approaching 30C in the east while parts of the West Coast are in for a soaking. An active front was forecast to move up the South Island, with parts of Westland forecast to receive up to 300mm of rain in 24 hours.
MetService meteorologist David Miller said the flipside of the northwest flow was that the east was in for a hot and dry couple of days.
Christchurch was in for 26C today, while Napier would see a scorching 29C.
The hot and dry conditions were being driven by the foehn effect, created when a moist air mass moves across a landmass, dumping its moisture but also producing heat, leaving behind warm and dry air.
Western and upper parts of the North Island, which did not see the same effect, would have a relatively mild day with humid northerlies and cloud keeping high temperatures in the low 20s.
Auckland is in for a cloudy day with northerlies and a high of 22C.
Miller said coastal areas in the west would see some heavy clouds and even fog in the next few days due to the humid northerly flow.
A severe rain warning was in place for much of Westland over 24 hours from 3pm yesterday south of Otira and 9pm about the ranges of Buller and northwest Nelson. Heavy downpours, localised flooding and slips were possible.
“It is going to be a pretty significant event for those areas,” Miller said.
There was also a severe wind warning in place from 11pm last night to 1pm today for parts of the Canterbury high country, with winds forecast up to 130km/h, and even stronger in exposed places. Wellington could also get strong winds this morning.
The front would make its way
It is going to be a pretty significant event for those areas [in the west of the South Island].
across to the east of the South Island today, spreading rain over the whole island, before becoming slowmoving and not reaching the North Island until tomorrow.
Friday was looking like a wet day for much of the North Island.
Rain would slowly ease to showers over the South Island on Saturday, with showers spreading over western parts of the North Island.
David Miller, MetService