A changing weather pattern is set to bring rain, stronger winds and milder nights across the country from midweek, with forecasters warning of a more significant system arriving over the weekend.
According to MetService, settled conditions experienced over the past week will give way from Wednesday as the first front moves in. Meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said the shift would be noticeable across many regions.
“So what we’ll be seeing from that is some rain and an increase in wind and also temperatures that are maybe warmer than what we’ve had over the past week or so,” she said, as quoted by Stuff.
The heaviest rainfall is expected in the western South Island, particularly across Westland, Buller and Tasman, with mountainous areas likely to be hardest hit. Parts of Marlborough, along with Taranaki Maunga and the Tararua Range in the North Island, could also see significant impacts. Most regions are forecast to receive some rain between Wednesday and Thursday, with conditions possibly extending into Friday, Stuff has reported.
Northwesterly winds are also set to strengthen, with Wellington among the areas most exposed to gusty conditions.
Makgabutlane said attention is also turning to a second, more extensive weather system expected later in the week.
“There are indications of another weather system that moves through into the weekend and it is It is looking larger and maybe more widespread,” she said. “It’s a separate weather system from what we’ll see on Wednesday and Thursday, but it’s likely to bring rainfall to very similar areas,” as quoted by Stuff.
In the North Island, Auckland and Hamilton are expected to remain mostly cloudy with occasional showers during the week, before steadier rain arrives over the weekend. Overnight temperatures are forecast to become milder, sitting around 15 to 16°C from Wednesday onwards.
Wellington is likely to experience rain on Thursday, followed by another wet spell from late Friday into Saturday, accompanied by strengthening northerly winds. Minimum temperatures there are expected to reach the mid-teens from Thursday night.
According to Stuff, in the South Island, Christchurch could see brief rain on Thursday, with further showers and stronger winds developing from Friday into the weekend. Daytime temperatures are expected to climb into the low 20s midweek. Dunedin and Queenstown are also forecast to receive showers from midweek, with winds becoming more noticeable heading into Friday.
“Their temperatures this week look like they stay in the mid-teens,” Makgabutlane said.
Forecasters say severe weather watches or warnings are possible, particularly for heavy rain in the western South Island and strong winds affecting parts of both islands later in the week. There is a moderate likelihood that rain warnings could be issued from Wednesday through Thursday, with risks continuing into the weekend.
There is also a possibility of wind warnings for parts of the South Island and the lower North Island as conditions intensify.
“It’s an early heads up for those areas,” Makgabutlane said, Stuff has quoted.
People are being advised to stay updated with the latest forecasts and heed any watches or warnings as the systems approach.