‘Cold autumn’ storm outbreak
“Quite an intense” trough hit New Zealand yesterday, bringing with it heavy rain and strong wind watches for parts of the North and Sound Island. MetService meteorologist Karl Loots told
Stuff severe weather was expected to lash the South Island last night.
“It’s a very cold autumn outbreak,” he said.
Heavy rain was expected to dump from Fiordland north of Doubtful Sound, with peak rates of 15 to 25mm per hour and possible thunderstorms starting from 10pm.
Heavy showers and thunderstorms could be expected in the ranges of the Westland at 2am today, with a possibility of severe gales in Canterbury and strong winds in some parts of Otago and Southland.
“With the system quite high, severe gales, particularly for Canterbury and places in Otago and Fiordland gusting 100kph [are expected],” Loots said.
“It is quite an unseasonable cold outbreak with maximum temperatures of 15 to 16 degrees Celsius expected in Southland, Queenstown and Wanaka.”
The weather was likely to clear off quite quickly today and the frosty front would move to the North Island over the day.
Heavy rain warnings with a possibility of thunderstorms are expected as people wake up today in Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupō, Taranaki, Taihape, Whanganui and Manawatū. “Monday into Tuesday, there will be major weather change [across the country],” Loots said.
The temperature was expected to drop with a minimum temperature in Christchurch of about 6C. Despite the rain, thousands of keen runners hit Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour coastline for Southern Cross Round the Bays yesterday.