More storm weather hitting the South Island before moving up the country

Friday, 2 November 2018

MetService says most of New Zealand should be prepared for more heavy rain and strong winds.

Another bout of severe weather is set to hit the lower South Island on Friday evening, before moving up the country to bring a wet and windy weekend.

On Thursday, a burst of severe weather brought over 160 lightning strikes to eastern parts of the North Island. While strong winds battered Auckland and kept emergency services busy.

Friday's weather was more settled, however MetService said it would be the 'calm before the storm' issuing severe weather watches for parts of the country.

Rain is expected about western parts of the South Island and the lower North Island, with the heaviest downpours in Fiordland, Westland, the Buller Ranges, the Canterbury and Otago Headwaters, and the Tararua Range.

In addition, severe northwest gales are expected over much of eastern and central parts of the South Island during Saturday, as well as the lower North Island. A warning is in force for the Canterbury High Country, Marlborough, Wellington and Wairarapa.

Bad weather approaches the country, as seen here in this MetService satellite image taken at 8:00pm.

ANOTHER SPRING-LIKE NOVEMBER - METSERVICE

MetService meteorologist James Millward said it's fairly usual for spring to show large swings in both rainfall and temperature, with large week-to-week variations expected.

Rain is starting to set in in the lower South Island, as seen here in this MetService rain radar image taken at 9:06pm.

'It's too early to put the winter woollies away but there'll be days for the togs too,' he said.

'Through October we experienced plenty of high pressure across Aotearoa for much of the month. This lead to mainly drier the average conditions, counteracted however by a couple of wet and windy events which dragged the rainfall totals back near normal. Temperatures saw a similar topsy-turvy ride but overall, ended back at average.'

Millward said November should expect large week-to-week variation, adding up to what will most likely be a fairly average month.

'Week one looks very cold and wet but week two looks warm and dry. Nothing lasts forever, even cold November rain.'

Spring is a battle ground between a lot of the drivers of our weather, and this year is no different, he said.

What does that mean for us here in New Zealand? Well, a lot of variety.

'Pushing ahead into November we're expecting cool southwesterlies to dominate early on. Following that, the Tasman should stabilise bringing drier conditions for North Island but moist northwesterlies for the lower South.

'Into the second half of the month, a settled Southern Ocean and occasional Tasman lows look set to bring us a real mixed bag. Pretty spring-like really.'