Motorists in Auckland have been warned to prepare for possible disruptions on Saturday as strong winds associated with a polar blast could force intermittent closures of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, while much of New Zealand braces for heavy rain, snow and freezing temperatures.
According to a report by New Zealand Herald, the Auckland region is expected to experience strong southwesterly winds, with gusts reaching gale force. In response, MetService has issued a yellow weather watch from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday.
The New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said wind gusts are forecast to reach 75-85 km/h between 4 a.m. and 11 a.m., before strengthening to 90-100 km/h until 10 p.m.
In a statement, NZTA warned that traffic restrictions may be necessary if wind conditions worsen.
“With the potential for sudden and high wind gusts, traffic control measures may be implemented on the bridge including the possibility of short closure periods,” as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
The agency added that normal bridge operations would continue unless conditions deteriorated.
“The moveable lane barrier will be operated as normal during this evening’s peak (Friday) and over the weekend,” the New Zealand Herald has quoted.
Elsewhere, the Tararua Range in the lower North Island remains under a heavy rain watch until midnight, with forecasts of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms later in the day.
Speaking to the New Zealand Herald, MetService meteorologist Alana Burrows said a series of weather fronts moving across the country would first bring wet and windy conditions before a sharp drop in temperatures.
“We’ve got a series of fronts crossing the whole country and bringing some heavy rain to the West Coast of the South Island,” Burrows said, the New Zealand Herald has quoted.
She explained that colder air from the south would spread across both islands over the weekend.
“It’s getting very cold, particularly for the South Island on Saturday, but then that cold air is spreading across into the North Island as well,” she said.
Burrows added that the unsettled weather would gradually improve later on Saturday.
“It’s basically turning wet and windy through Friday and then into Saturday, but through the second half of Saturday we will start to see conditions clearing,” as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
She said the arrival of a strong southwesterly airflow would cause temperatures to fall rapidly.
“We have got some colder air coming up from the south, so we’re going to see temperatures quite quickly plummet with this colder air coming from the southwest,” as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
Mount Cook is forecast to be among the coldest locations in the country this weekend, with temperatures ranging from a high of 3°C to a low of -11°C. Queenstown is expected to record a maximum of 5°C on Saturday before dropping to -5°C overnight, with severe frosts likely, as reported by the New Zealand Herald.
Burrows said freezing conditions could extend into early next week.
“We could see frosts overnight Sunday into Monday across both islands.”
The cold snap is also expected to bring snow to lower elevations across parts of the South Island.
Describing the expected snowfall, Burrows said:
“As we get that colder air coming up, we’re going to see some snow showers,” as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
Snow levels are forecast to fall to around 300 metres in Otago and Southland from Friday night into early Saturday, before lowering to approximately 400 metres in Canterbury, mainly affecting the high country and foothills. Road snowfall warnings have been issued for Milford Road and Crown Range Road.
Burrows noted that the weather system would benefit ski resorts across the country.
“The skifields down there are going to get snow too, which is good for them,” she said, as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
She added that North Island ski fields could also receive fresh snowfall.
“The North Island could see some snow also through the weekend, so for the skifields, they’ll possibly get topped up,” the New Zealand Herald has quoted.
Weather conditions are expected to become calmer across most parts of the country during the second half of Saturday, although Auckland is forecast to receive further rainfall on Sunday while the rest of New Zealand is expected to remain relatively dry and settled.