It’s been a long time coming but the weather pattern around New Zealand is finally changing gears and rain makers look likely to return to the North Island after months of dry weather for some.

There are numerous dry areas, some from Manawatu to Waikato are drier than they were in last years big drought.

But as predicted by WeatherWatch.co.nz in late March, the mid-April change to wetter weather still looks likely.

“We’re seeing more and more showers popping up across the North Island this weekend and in the coming days, while next week we have at least two low pressure systems moving in from the west and north west” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

The second low, which may arrive during Easter, may well be remnants from current Tropical Cyclone Ita in the Coral Sea.

“The tropical system looks likely to slide down the Queensland coast in the coming week then may well reach the North Island around the start of the Easter weekend.  However not all models agree on this track yet – there remains a great deal of uncertainty about how much energy the remnants of this low will have by the time they reach the Tasman Sea mid next week”.  Mr Duncan says those going away for Easter, and those needing rain, should keep up to date with the long range maps at WeatherWatch.co.nz across next week.

A third, weaker, low from the Tasman Sea is also possible around Easter Monday.

The chance of rain for places like Manawatu and Waikato over the coming 10 days is as high as 80%.  For some farms it has been months since the chance of rain was that high.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz