Covering period of Monday 3 – Thursday 6 April – Clocks have gone back an hour but the weather over New Zealand hasn’t skipped a beat. MetService is forecasting fronts and high-pressure to tag team in the week ahead, bringing changeable weather.
Today a cold, showery front moves north over the North Island while a ridge and fine conditions build over the South Island.
MetService meteorologist April Clark says, “Other than cooler early morning temperatures and patches of fog, tomorrow looks to be the most settled day of the week with only Fiordland and Stewart Island seeing any significant showers during the day.”
Another cold front is expected to affect the South Island on Wednesday and the lower North Island on Thursday. The front brings showers or rain, mainly to the west. Northwest winds ahead of the front lead to a short upward spike in temperatures for eastern coasts.
“The Christchurch daytime high forecast graphs will look a lot like a wave this week with the forecast daytime high of 22C on Wednesday dropping down to the mid-teens again on Thursday,” adds Clark
On Friday, another ridge of high pressure brings settled weather once more, though a low to the north brings the possibility of rain to Northland, and MetService meteorologists have their eye on that.
Easter weekend still holds a lot of uncertainty with the battle between the ridge and low pressure to the north and west still undecided in the models. Due to this uncertainty holiday weekend forecasts will change in the coming days so make sure you keep updated to avoid any Easter hunt washouts.
For media enquiries or to arrange an interview with one of our meteorologists please call 04 4700 848 or email metcomms@metservice.com
Understanding our Severe Weather Watches and Warnings
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
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
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
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!
