A cold front quickly makes its way up the North Island Thursday afternoon, stormy conditions are expected along both coasts and residents in these areas should beware of a periods of gusty winds and heavier showers.
MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor says: “This is a fast-moving front, so any impacts should be brief. If you’re attending tonight’s football game in Hamilton, the worst will have passed before kick-off”.
Southwesterlies will strengthen about central New Zealand into the evening, and a Strong Wind Watch is in place for Wairarapa (south of Featherston), Wellington, and the Kaikōura Coast from 8pm tonight until 6am Friday morning. Due to the persistent southwesterly flow over the last week, MetService has also issued swell warnings along the east coast of the South Island and the lower North Island, with a peak of nine metres in the far south this afternoon, and four to five metres about Wellington and Cook Strait tonight.
A building ridge settles conditions for most of the country on Friday, clearing skies, calming seas, easing winds, and in turn dropping temperatures on Saturday morning. With the exception of a few showers about western parts of Aotearoa, Saturday will be a dry, blue-sky day – and it’ll be much the same on Sunday.
O’Connor details: “A weak trough moves up the west coast of the South Island on Sunday morning, but there’s very little oomph behind it. Over in the east, it’ll be a Dunner stunner ahead of the Football Ferns final group match on Sunday night.”
Overall, a calmer and clearer weekend ahead weather wise – keep up with our forecasts for full details wherever you are in Aotearoa.
Understanding MetService Severe Weather Warning System
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings (Localised Red Warning) – take cover now:
This warning is a red warning for a localised area.
When extremely severe weather is occurring or will do within the hour.
Severe thunderstorms have the ability to have significant impacts for an area indicated in the warning.
In the event of a Severe Thunderstorm Red Warning: Act now!
Red Warnings are about taking immediate action:
When extremely severe weather is imminent or is occurring
Issued when an event is expected to be among the worst that we get – it will have significant impact and it is possible that a lot of people will be affected
In the event of a Red Warning: Act now!
Orange Warnings are about taking action:
When severe weather is imminent or is occurring
Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather
In the event of an Orange Warning: Take action.
Thunderstorm Watch means thunderstorms are possible, be alert and consider action
Show the area that thunderstorms are most likely to occur during the validity period.
Although thunderstorms are often localised, the whole area is on watch as it is difficult to know exactly where the severe thunderstorm will occur within the mapped area.
During a thunderstorm Watch: Stay alert and take action if necessary.
Watches are about being alert:
When severe weather is possible, but not sufficiently imminent or certain for a warning to be issued
Typically issued 1 – 3 days in advance of potential severe weather.
During a Watch: Stay alert
Outlooks are about looking ahead:
To provide advanced information on possible future Watches and/or Warnings
Issued routinely once or twice a day
Recommendation: Plan
