WeatherWatch.co.nz is advising people to take extreme care near the sea over the weekend as large Southern Ocean storm churns by well south of the country bringing very large swells.

The swells, predicted by WeatherMap.co.nz, will be up and over 6 metres over both Saturday and Sunday.

Further out at sea – in fact covering much of the Tasman – monster swells of 8 metres will be developing.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says it’s rare for such big swells to last for such a long amount of time and over such a widespread area.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the highest risk areas will be Auckland (West coast, including the entrance to Manukau Harbour), Waikato, Taranaki and the West Coast with Northland, Southland and Wanganui also receiving dangerous swells but to a lesser extent.

On a side note, strange currents and tides are being reported on the east coast of Northland following this morning’s 7.6 earthquake near the Kermadec Islands. Dangerous currents due to the tsunami may remain along the east coast into Friday.
 

– WeatherWatch.co.nz