New heavy rain watches are in effect across parts of New Zealand as a tropical low moves north and a front tracks across the South Island, prompting warnings of a “busy 36 hours” of weather, according to MetService.
Weather Systems Bring Heavy Rain
Yesterday, MetService warned of strong winds across the North Island, where a yellow strong wind watch has since expired for the Far North. The strongest gusts in the past 24 hours occurred between 6 p.m. and 1 a.m. in exposed areas of Northland and Auckland.
Opouteke in Northland recorded wind gusts of 131km/h, while Cape Karikari reached 117km/h. The strongest gust in Auckland was recorded at Channel Island, reaching 100km/h.
Currently, a low of tropical origin is located north of New Zealand, with an associated front moving south over the upper North Island today and Friday. A front from the south Tasman Sea is expected to reach Fiordland late tonight and move north over the South Island during Friday.
MetService meteorologist Heather Keats said the country is facing “a busy 36 hours ahead of us with two weather systems playing a role.”
“A large pressure system and front to the northwest, and another front with strong north-westerlies over the deep south. Now both systems will dish up heavy rain, as one sinks over the upper north and the other tracks up the west coast of the South Island,” Keats said.
Heavy rain watches have been issued for the Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty west of Kawerau, the Tasman District about and west of Motueka, Buller District, the ranges of the Grey District, the ranges of the Westland District, and Fiordland west of the Lakes through Friday.
There is also a risk of thunderstorms in the regions under the watches. Keats also noted that a warm and humid air mass moving down from the tropics tonight and tomorrow night will create “uncomfortable sleeping conditions,” particularly over the North Island.
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