Severe gale risk for south, Canterbury high country; heavy rain in west
Tuesday, 14 May 2019
A cold front moving across the South Island on Tuesday is expected to bring severe gales and heavy rain.
A more settled day is forecast for the North Island, with just a chance of showers in the west.
MetService said northwest winds could approach severe gale strength in exposed places for a time in the Canterbury high country during Tuesday afternoon and evening: in Fiordland, Otago and Southland from late morning; and in Stewart Island during the morning and into mid-afternoon.
There's also a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms throughout Tuesday in Fiordland and the westland ranges south of Otira.
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The latest bout of stormy weather comes close behind a round of heavy rain and strong winds that affected much of the country during the weekend. In Auckland trees were blown down and some homes lost power.
'As we are now well into autumn, we can expect more of these windy, wet and cold systems,' MetService meteorologist Gerrit Keyser said.
Close to average temperatures could feel slightly cooler than New Zealanders had become accustomed to of late, with wind chill a big factor for the deep south, he said.
A southwest flow would bring large swells to the east and west coasts during the week.
On Tuesday, Invercargill is expected to have afternoon rain, with northwesterlies that could get to gale strength for a time before turning westerly mid-afternoon. A high of 16 degrees Celsius is forecast.
Christchurch is forecast to become gradually cloudier during the day, with northerly winds and a high of 18C. Wellington is headed for a dry 16C with strong northwesterlies.
Auckland is expected to get to 17C, with southerly breezes turning westerly in the afternoon. Light showers are possible along the west coast.