Weather: Heavy rain and strong winds expected for much of NZ

Tuesday, 18 August 2020

A front brings a significant band of rain onto western Aotearoa on Tuesday, and Heavy Rain Watches have been issued.

The country is in for a wet week, with heavy rain warnings and strong wind watches in place for parts of the upper North Island and South Island.

Northland and Auckland are in for a blustery night on Tuesday, with gales blowing up to 120 kilometres per hour at Cape Reinga in exposed places, and 75kmh at Auckland's Harbour Bridge.

While parts of the South Island could experience rainfall of up to 120 millimetres on Tuesday night and into Wednesday morning.

It follows a storm that passed over Northland last week that saw some schools close early amid flooding fears.

Heavy rain is expected for parts of the North and South islands (file photo).

* Storm passes over Northland and Auckland, heads towards Bay of Plenty

* 120mm of rain expected for Northland as region prepares for another deluge

MetService duty forecaster Paul Ngamanu said wet weather and strong winds are expected to hit late in the evening on Tuesday, and continue through to Wednesday for some places.

Heavy rain watches have been issued for Northland, Gisborne, Bay of Plenty's western areas, and also the Richmond and Bryant Ranges, including Rai Valley, at the top of the South Island.

Heavy rain warnings are in place for the northwest ranges of Nelson and Westland ranges.

It's going to be a blustery night on Tuesday for some parts of the North Island.

While strong wind watches are also in place for Northland, Gisborne and in the Bay of Plenty – east of Whakatāne.

In Northland, periods of heavy rain are expected overnight on Tuesday, with rainfall amounts possibly approach warning criteria, especially about the eastern hills.

Most of the heavy rainfall is expected overnight and into the early hours of Wednesday, Ngamanu said. But parts of the Northland and Auckland regions have already recorded some strong wind gusts.

The weather station at Cape Reinga recorded 120kmh gusts, however this number was to be taken with a grain of salt, MetService meteorologist Angus Hines previously said, due to the station’s exposed cliff top location.

The Kaeo weather station, also in Northland, measured gusts at 95kmh. While every station within the Auckland region had recorded gusts of at least 55kmh, with Whangaparāoa recording 81kmh and the Auckland Harbour Bridge 75kmh.

The weather front would continue throughout the week, bringing rain to most parts of the country. It could also bring strong northwesterly winds.

Rain is expected to be heavy in the Bay of Plenty region from Wednesday.

On Thursday, a front is expected to move southeast over the North Island and upper South Island, while an associated low approaches the South Island’s West Coast. The front is expected to spread strong showery west to northwest winds over the North Island then weaken, and become slow moving over the South Island on Friday.

A narrow ridge of high pressure moves over New Zealand on Saturday, followed by another low on Sunday.