> From the WeatherWatch archives
Christchurch, Wellington, Napier all in firing line for strong winds this week.
It’s been many months since New Zealand’s famous nor’wester has blown and by the end of this week eastern parts of the country will be feeling it again. A large high pressure system in the Tasman Sea will spread to the north of New Zealand and will squeeze against a deep low in the southern ocean causing strong nor’westerlies to develop.
“The start of the week will be calm and cold but by Wednesday strong winds will be affecting Christchurch, Wellington and Napier with gales possible in exposed places. That means a definite end to frosts for most if not all towns and cities in the South Island for a number of days” says the Radio Network’s head weather analyst Philip Duncan.
“Day time highs are likely to return to the mid even upper teens”
“A few months ago the nor’westers were bringing drought conditions to Hawke’s Bay, but this time around the farmers will be pleased to have the warm, dry conditions return”.
However the westerly airflow means a return to traditional winter weather for western areas. Heavy rain is expected off and on this week in the South Island’s southern and west coasts, as far inland as Queenstown, while New Plymouth and Taranaki will see showers. “In Waikato and Auckland you can expect a pretty good start to the week but those sou’westers could drag in some cloudy periods and maybe the odd shower, especially tomorrow.
And there’s more good news for the other flood ravaged region of the country – Northland. “This week the centre of a high, not a low, will be anchored over the far north, meaning plenty of sun and temperatures around 15 or 16 degrees. There is the risk of a shower, but they should be light and brief if any at all”.
Duncan says the change in the weather pattern could be an indicator that the coldest part of winter has come to an end.
WEATHER NEWS HEADLINES:
– Frosts and black ice still likely tonight in the South Island.
– Weather.com predicts westerlies for the next 10 days.
– Major flooding in the UK. A months rainfall in a day for some parts.
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