It’s not on the same scale as last weekend but another windy and wet weekend is on the cards for most regions as a deepening low in the Tasman Sea moves in.

As the low moves into the West Coast the high that has brought frosty weather for the past couple of mornings is already moving away from New Zealand and out into the Pacific Ocean. 

As it moves east it will pull down a warm northerly flow – with sub-tropical connections – across northern New Zealand.

Heavy rain will slowly move up the West Coast today then gradually into western and northern parts of the North Island during Saturday and early Sunday.

“As we head further into Saturday the sub-tropical element will ignite the rain clouds producing isolated thunderstorms and torrential downpours” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.  

Mr Duncan says the low will be short lived, rapidly deepening today and tomorrow before weakening on Sunday.  “The deepening today and tomorrow will mean more isobars between the Tasman Low and the Pacific High – putting New Zealand smack bang in the windy zone again with gale to severe gale nor’westers expected along exposed eastern parts of New Zealand, including Wellington”.

A repeat of last weekend’s hurricane force winds is not expected.

Heaviest rain will be in western parts of the South Island today and early tomorrow then the heavy falls shift to areas like Bay of Plenty, central North Island and East Cape.

Strongest winds will be in the east and southern half of the North Island.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz