The North Island will hardly have a chance to catch its breath before the third storm in 7 days rolls in.   The Weather Watch Centre is predicting a low to develop in the Tasman Sea during Tuesday and this one has the potential to be more widespread than the weekend’s storm.  “Saturday’s storm was relatively small in size but big in severity, this next storm won’t be as intense but will cover a much bigger area, affecting most of New Zealand” says the Centre.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says the nasty weather is expected to set in late on Tuesday with heavy rain developing across northern and western regions of New Zealand.  “By Wednesday it should be peaking with torrential rain likely, that on top of the saturated soil following this weekend’s storm, could escalate the chances of flooding”.

Duncan says flooding will be the main concern with this storm.

Heavy rain is expected in Northland, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, Waikato, Taranaki, Manawatu, Nelson and West Coast while severe gales are likely in Manawatu, Wellington and Wairarapa.

“This storm is taking a slightly different path to Saturday’s low.  It will track down the western coastline then across central New Zealand.  Severe gales are definitely possible through central regions”.

Mr Duncan says at this stage the low hasn’t developed so it’s exact path wont be known until later on Monday or even Tuesday.  “It will develop quickly but is not expected to be another weather bomb.  The air pressure will be significantly higher than Saturday’s storm but the centre of this storm will be more widespread”.

According to the Weather Watch Centre Monday is expected to be a relatively calm day across the country ahead of this approaching system.