Three high pressure systems and at least two or three lows will affect New Zealand’s weather and coastal areas in the week ahead. Category 1 Tropical Cyclone Linda is unlikely to affect New Zealand in any serious way with the storm expected to fall apart tomorrow and Friday. It may bring a few showers to northern New Zealand into the weekend and early next week though.

As of Wednesday morning Tropical Cyclone Linda was located in the Coral Sea east of Queensland. WeatherWatch.co.nz mentioned this yesterday morning and last night it was finally officially named by Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology.

Linda is moving southwestward at 17 kts over past 6 hours with maximum sustained winds of 75km/h and gusts to over 90 km/h according to JTWC.  It’s going to remain at sea and no landfall in Australia is expected – or New Zealand.

Surf’s up in Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast and Sunshine coast with waves of about 5m and storm surges are threatening some areas from Rockhampton to Brisbane today and Thursday.

Meanwhile in New Zealand a storm in the Southern Ocean is going to brush the country bringing heavy rain and thunderstorms to the West Coast (especially the southern half) and some spillover into Southland over the next day or two. Winds will become strong from the west to north west through the Southern Alps, Canterbury high country and up towards Cook Strait and Wellington. Gales are likely in the most exposed areas through the mountains.

A colder change spreads into Southland on Friday before warming up again this weekend as a high rolls in. Expect some colder mornings though in Southland and Otago.

TWO HIGHS, MAYBE THREE…
There are two highs for New Zealand this week – one for each island.

The first high is coming in on Thursday for the North Island. This high is also helping tear apart and weaken Cyclone Linda today and tomorrow.

The second high comes in this weekend mostly for the South Island and clears New Zealand’s mainland to the east on Monday, lying over the Chatham Islands early next week.

A third high is possible a week from now from the Tasmania area.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz (an IBM business partner)