It’s early days but a trend in the models is developing this week – they are picking a tropical storm to form north of New Zealand within the week and it may drift our way.

Latest guidance from the best computer models out of both Europe and the US suggest a large area of low pressure developing and deepening next week between Vanuatu, Fiji and New Caledonia.

Around one week from now these forecast models show the low drifiting south towards New Zealand with a very large high to the east of the nation which could help guide the low towards us.

For those who remember Cyclone Winston last year you’ll also know not every low comes straight to us from the north – they can turn east or west and not affect us.  So we’ll be keeping a close eye on the models, but our own forecasts suggest this low may be in a ‘good’ position to approach northern New Zealand next weekend.

“With a neutral weather pattern affecting New Zealand the weather can come from us at all four angles” says head weather forecaster Philip Duncan. “This week we saw highs in the mid 30s in the east then an usual wet south east change which brought heavy rain to dry areas.  Next week our weather comes in from the west but forecaster eyes will be looking north now too to see if this low will come our way”.

Lately there are a number of tropical lows and storms from Australia to Fiji, mostly bringing flooding rains and not so much wind.

WeatherWatch.co.nz will keep you posted – and remember to check our maps page along with the 10 day % of rain in our forecasts to help get a better understanding of if you might be impacted or not. We expect to be able to better lock things in by Monday.  “When a low comes in from the north it’s always a bit like balancing an egg on a roof. It will often roll down one side or the other, but every now and then they can sit in the middle – those are the lows that are more likely to bring heavy rain and strong winds to northern New Zealand and the modelling currently hints at this but it’s important to remember it’s still over a week away” says Mr Duncan.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says MPI and local councils will be closely monitoring this for potential rain chances in our driest regions.

ECMWF for 7 days from now shows a low forming north of NZ and a blocking high to our east.

Next Friday/Saturday around New Zealand – current forecast model by GFS/Weathermap

– WeatherWatch.co.nz