New Zealand’s weather is calming down after a rough few days thanks to a winter storm fired up from the Southern Ocean over the weekend.  The Radio Network’s Weather Watch Centre is predicting a relatively quiet couple of days for much of the nations populated spots as a stubborn high pressure system in the Tasman Sea finally spreads a ridge over the country.  “That means some pretty cold nights are again on the way” says Head Weather Analyst Philip Duncan.  “South of Auckland frosts and fog patches will come back to life – and some of those frosts in central areas of both islands may be severe following the weekend’s snow”. 

Duncan is also warning motorists in the South Island to watch for black ice on some interior roads on Tuesday morning.

But rain is again on the way for the South Island, positive news for the country’s thirsty hydro lakes.   “Our weather partner, weather.com, who last week accurately picked snow in Canterbury, are now predicting rain for the hydro lakes on Thursday night.  While heavy rain isn’t likely, we’re still expecting at least 24 hours of rain and showers for the area”.

Heavy rain is expected along the West Coast on Thursday afternoon and into Friday as a deep low in the Tasman inches closer. 

Mr Duncan says the North Island isn’t expecting too much moisture from this system but strengthening nor westers are predicted to return to Wellington and the lower North Island later this week.