Easter Monday wet for most of the country, risk of thunderstorms

Monday, 22 April 2019

New Plymouth had some of the heaviest rain in the country through Sunday and into early Monday, but things should improve during the day. Heaviest rain on Monday is forecast for much of the rest of the North Island and top of the South Island.

Rain or showers are likely across much of the country on Easter Monday - with a chance of thunderstorms for some - while the best weather is expected in the south and west of the South Island.

MetService is forecasting rain or showers, heavy at times for the upper half of the North Island as people head home after the Easter break. There's also some chance of thunderstorms for the upper two-thirds of the North Island and the very top of the South Island. Areas with the highest chance of thunderstorms are Bay of Plenty, and western areas near the coast from Taranaki to Auckland.

Rain was no obstacle for thousands of people who enjoyed fun, food and games at Māpua Easter Fair in April 2019.

The heaviest rain is expected in Bay of Plenty east of Whakatane, and in the Gisborne ranges, with rainfall intensities over 25mm an hour possible. Rain could also be heavy, although not as bad, in western Bay of Plenty and Gisborne away from the ranges.

Rain was expected to be particularly heavy during Monday morning in the northwest of the South Island, west of Motueka, where there was also a risk of morning thunderstorms. Throughout Nelson and Marlborough the rain could be heavy at times during Monday.

Waitomo, Taumarunui and Taihape could also have some particularly heavy rain through to early afternoon, although mainly about higher ground.

Thunderstorms are also possible about Taranaki, amongst the showers, some of which could be heavy. Hawke's Bay is forecast to have periods of rain.

Thunderstorm risk for today has a large low risk for the central and northern North Island as well as a few moderate risk areas. These include western areas and eastern Bay of Plenty. You can find a description of the thunderstorm risk here https://t.co/BZWb7ZPiRd ^KL pic.twitter.com/MIRAjmOwqm

— MetService (@MetService) April 21, 2019

Occasional rain or showers is forecast for the lower North Island, while in Canterbury occasional rain or drizzle is expected to clear gradually.

During Sunday and into Monday, Taranaki had the most rain, with New Plymouth Airport recording 105mm during the 24 hours to around 9am.

Many stations in Taranaki were showing similar amounts, while in the ranges some stations had up to 130mm, MetService meteorologist Karl Loots said. While the rain had eased in Taranaki, more was expected during the day.

Hamilton Airport recorded 25mm between midnight and 9am Monday. 'That's a pretty steady amount of rain, but not anything close to warning criteria,' Loots said. 'Large parts of the North Island are going to be seeing amounts like that.'

A rain band was over the central North Island on Monday morning. 'It's going to be pretty much periods of rain for large parts of the North Island,' Loots said.

Auckland is forecast to have a rainy Monday, and it could get heavy with hail at times. After a rainy Monday morning, Wellington could get away with a few a showers in the afternoon, when southerlies are also forecast to arrive. Any light rain remaining in Christchurch should clear during the afternoon.

Niwa Weather noted Monday's rain would be beneficial for many places, with soils still much drier than usual in large areas of the North Island, and much of the top of the South Island.