Across the weekend a strong nor’east flow on the western side of New Zealand’s large high pressure system coupled with a small low near Australia to create very stormy coastal conditions along Aussie’s eastern side.

Damage was significant to some coastal properties with swimming pools, front sections and homes partially destroyed.  Further inland strong winds and heavy rain caused damage to buildings too.

As the high over us slowly departs to the east in the coming day or so it will allow this band of subtropical wind, rain and swells to cross the Tasman and then New Zealand – but it is all weakening as it comes our way, we are not in for a repeat of what eastern Australia has just endured – but we do still have some rough conditions.

As of Tuesday very dangerous swells over 8 metres are affecting both the Tasman Sea to our west and the Pacific Ocean to our east while sea conditions around NZ are fairly calm under high pressure.  As the high departs income the huge swells, in particular for eastern and northern parts of Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and north Auckland this Wednesday and Thursday.

The front will fall apart over New Zealand bringing isolated sub-tropical downpours to the West Coast and maybe Far North but plenty of areas of dry or drizzle.  Winds will continue to get gustier from the northerly quarter as the high tracks away to the east.

9am Tuesday:

9am this coming Thursday – note how the Tasman Sea swells have eased a bit, but a still huge at 5 or 6 metres around northern NZ

– Swell maps by MetOcean – see weathermap.co.nz for more info

– WeatherWatch.co.nz