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Improving trend with a few exceptions

Issued: 12:37pm Thursday 23 Sep 2021

After some heavy rain over much of the country, MetService is forecasting fluctuating weather through the weekend, as the front that had been affecting the country clears away to the east of the country today followed by a westerly flow...

Short Forecast

Valid to Midnight Saturday

Northland to Manawatu, including Coromandel and the central high country
Fine and cloudy periods. Rain about Taranaki tomorrow night.

Bay of Plenty and Gisborne to Wairarapa
Fine.

Horowhenua to Wellington, also Nelson and Marlborough
Fine today. Cloud increasing tomorrow with evening rain.

Canterbury (except the High Country), North Otago and Dunedin
Fine today. Scattered showers tomorrow with severe northwest gales in exposed places.

Buller, Westland, Fiordland and Canterbury High Country
Scattered showers, turning to rain in Fiordland this evening and elsewhere tomorrow, heavy with possible thunderstorms, easing tomorrow evening. Severe northwest gales about the High Country tomorrow.

Southland, Clutha and Central Otago
Fine spells and isolated showers today. Rain tomorrow with severe northwest gales in exposed places. Rain turning to showers tomorrow afternoon and winds easing.

Chatham Islands
Fine spells. Drizzle developing tomorrow afternoon.

Extended Forecast

Sunday
North Island: Showers or rain for most, possibly heavy in the west and in Hawke's Bay. South Island: Early rain in the northwest, easing to scattered showers. Showers in the south with snow possible to 400 metres. Rain developing in the east, possibly heavy in Marlborough and Canterbury.

Monday
North Island: Showers or rain south of Waikato, with heavy falls in the east and Wellington. Mainly fine further north with isolated showers. South Island: Becoming mainly fine, but showers or drizzle lingering in the northwest and northeast.

Tuesday
North Island: Showers, clearing central and southern areas later. South Island: Showers developing in the south, otherwise fine with isolated afternoon showers in the far north.

Chatham Islands
Showers becoming isolated late Sunday, then turning to rain early Tuesday. Northwesterlies changing southwest on Sunday, turning southeast early Monday then northeast on Tuesday.

Severe Thunderstorm Watches

There are no Severe Thunderstorm Warnings or Watches in force.

Severe Weather Warnings & Watches

Heavy rain and severe northwest gales for parts of the South Island, and northwest gales for Wellington
A cold front, preceded by strong northwesterlies, is expected to approach the South Island from the Tasman Sea this evening. The front is expected to move northeast across the South Island during Saturday and the North Island on Sunday. This front should bring heavy rain to western parts of the South Island and severe gale northwesterlies to exposed parts in the east. Heavy Rain and Strong Wind Warnings and Watches are in force for parts of the South Island, including Wellington for strong wind.

People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case parts of the Watches are upgraded to Warnings or further areas are added.

Heavy Rain Warning

Heavy rain may cause streams and rivers to rise rapidly. Surface flooding and slips are also possible and driving conditions may be hazardous.

Area: The ranges of Westland south of Otira
Valid: 17 hours from 1:00am to 6:00pm Saturday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Expect 120 to 180mm of rain to accumulate during this time. Peak rates of 15 to 25mm/h, with thunderstorms possible.
Changes: Upgrade to an Orange Warning.

Area: The headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers south of Arthurs Pass
Valid: 17 hours from 1:00am to 6:00pm Saturday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Expect 120 to 180mm of rain to accumulate about the main divide, and 80 to 110mm of rain within 15km east of the divide. Peak rates of 15 to 25mm/h about the divide, and thunderstorms possible.
Changes: Upgrade to an Orange Warning.

Area: The headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers
Valid: 17 hours from 11:00pm Friday to 4:00pm Saturday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Expect 100 to 130mm of rain to accumulate near the main divide, and 80 to 100mm of rain within 15km east of the divide. Peak rates of 10 to 20mm/h, with thunderstorms possible.
Changes: Upgrade to an Orange Warning.

Area: Fiordland
Valid: 17 hours from 10:00pm Friday to 3:00pm Saturday
Forecast: Expect 100 to 130 mm of rain to accumulate from Milford Sound northwards, and 70 to 100mm further south. Peak rates of 10 to 20mm/h, and thunderstorms possible.
Changes: Upgrade to an Orange Warning.

Strong Wind Warning

Strong wind gusts could damage trees, powerlines and unsecured structures. Driving may be hazardous, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.

Area: Canterbury High Country
Valid: 17 hours from 1:00am to 6:00pm Saturday
Forecast: Northwesterly gales are forecast to be severe in exposed places at times, with gusts reaching 130km/h.
Changes: Upgrade to an Orange Warning.

Area: Southern Lakes, Central Otago, Clutha, Dunedin and North Otago
Valid: 15 hours from 1:00am to 4:00pm Saturday
Forecast: Northwesterly gales are forecast to be severe in exposed places at times, with gusts reaching 120km/h.

Area: Southland, Fiordland and Stewart Island
Valid: 16 hours from 10:00pm Friday to 2:00pm Saturday
Forecast: Northwesterly gales are forecast to be severe in exposed places at times, with gusts reaching 120km/h.

Heavy Rain Watch

Area: The ranges of Buller and Westland from Otira northwards
Valid: 10 hours from 1:00pm to 11:00pm Saturday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.

Strong Wind Watch

Area: Wellington
Valid: 12 hours from 2:00pm Saturday to 3:00am Sunday
Forecast: Northwesterly winds may approach severe gale in exposed places at times.

Area: Christchurch, Canterbury Plains
Valid: 15 hours from 3:00am to 6:00pm Saturday
Forecast: Northwesterly winds may approach severe gale in exposed places at times.

Area: Marlborough
Valid: 13 hours from 11:00am Saturday to 12:00am Sunday
Forecast: Northwesterly winds may approach severe gale in exposed places at times.

Road Snowfall Warnings

Milford Road (SH94)

Valid: 7 hours from 4:00pm to 11:00pm Saturday
Forecast: Snow is expected to fall from late Saturday afternoon to evening. 5 to 10cm of snow is likely to accumulate on the road near the tunnel, with lesser amounts down to 700 metres.

An update for Road Snowfall Warnings will be issued by 10:00pm Friday 24 Sep 2021

There are no Road Snowfall Warnings in force for Napier-Taupo Road (SH5), Desert Road (SH1), Remutaka Hill Road (SH2), Lewis Pass (SH7), Arthur's Pass (SH73), Porters Pass (SH73), Haast Pass (SH6), Lindis Pass (SH8), Crown Range Road, Dunedin to Waitati Highway (SH1)

Other Weather Links

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National Parks & Ski Fields(In Season)

https://www.metservice.com/mountains-and-parks/national-parks

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Rural 

https://www.metservice.com/rural

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Marine

https://www.metservice.com/marine

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Rain Radar

https://www.metservice.com/maps-radar/rain/radar?range=300&tab=real-time

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For More Information & Updates Go To

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MetService - Te Ratonga Tirorangi

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Or

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WWW.Weatherwatch.co.nz

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