Saturday started with a weather bomb, Sunday saw quickly clearing weather, Monday was like summer again for many places and Tuesday has seen the clouds rolling back in – and by Wednesday rain clouds will be approaching New Zealand from the north east and south west.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the country will be the meat in the sandwich as the fronts move in, bringing rain, showers and gusty winds to many areas.

Despite the bleak outlook severe weather isn’t expected (ie, few warnings, if any, will be issued)

But for those dealing with the clean up and repairs around Wanganui, Patea and Taranaki the forecast won’t be a welcome one with east to south east winds building on Wednesday and becoming brisk by Thursday.

Heavy rain may also push back into the Gisborne region – and may cause more problems for contractors trying to clear a giant slip in the Waioeke Gorge.

Windy weather is also expected through the Southern Alps and the West Coast where nor’easters will become strong for a time – possibly gale force.

Meanwhile a weak low near Northland will push more cloud, humidity and overnight warmth into the upper North Island on Wednesday – bringing rain or showers in at night and across Thursday, along with a strengthening east to south east wind which will become blustery in exposed places.

At the same time a very strong high will push into the lower South Island – and is the main reason for the strong winds across the country.  (the higher the air pressure the stronger the winds often are around it). 

By the weekend a new low – a fairly large but weak one according to the latest models – will start to develop in the Tasman and move towards the country by Sunday or Monday.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz