For some this weekend is the the first official weekend of Spring and weather conditions, as mentioned in the blog below, will be spring-like with a return to the gale nor westers over much of the South Island.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says conditions will go hill quickly in the south today.  “A deep low in the Southern Ocean is pushing against a large high over northern New Zealand – and while conditions will be pleasant over much of the North Island today things will go downhill quickly for places south of Wellington as those winds pick up”.

Strong winds have already developed in Southland and Central Otago with the Weather Watch Centre reporting gusts over 80km/h in Invercargill and over 140km/h on Stewart Island. 

“The warm nor’wester has already lifted Dunedin’s temperature to 20 degrees and temperatures are expected to reach into the lower to mid 20s in some eastern areas today and again tomorrow further north”..

Weather warnings have been issued by our government forecaster for a number of South Island regions.  Gales gusting up to 130km/h from Southland to Canterbury will develop tonight starting in Southland after dark and reaching Canterbury before dawn on Saturday and lasting much of the day.

Duncan says winds are likely to reach gale force in exposed parts of Wellington during Saturday too.

For details on these warnings click here.