A low in the Tasman Sea is about to bring rain or showers to most parts of the country today, tomorrow and until the weekend.

While the heaviest rain is expected in western and northern facing regions some spill over is expected across the east coast.

As of Monday night MetService’s weather chart for midnight Tuesday showed as many as 11 fronts circling around or near New Zealand over the next 24 hours. “This low is big, slow and disorganised” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan. “By that I mean while there are around a dozen fronts attached to this system most of them are small and weak”

“Most of New Zealand should see rain this week with heavy falls in some western and northern places and only a few spits in other regions”.

Mr Duncan says lows like this can be frustrating to forecast for. “When they’re big and slow like this one it can sometimes be difficult to pin point the arrival and clearance of rain with so many weak fronts forming and then dying out”.
 

A large pool of low pressure will cross the country during Friday and Saturday possibly bringing torrential rain to some western regions and maybe a few thunderstorms.

Mr Duncan says a cold southerly on Saturday will follow the warmer week.  “It’s certainly not a polar blast but southern New Zealand won’t be heading towards double digit highs from Saturday through until next week.  Wind chills will be closer to zero for a time too which could affect the rugby on Saturday night in Dunedin”.

Last night gales blasted Cape Reinga with gusts near 100km/h.  In Auckland winds were near gale force across the harbour with gusts to around 60km/h in the city.  Today the winds should ease right back.

What are conditions like where you are today?  Clouds building?  Rain falling?  Winds blowing?  Post a new comment below and let us know!