TROPICAL LOW NUMBER 2 COULD BRING DROUGHT RELIEF

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TROPICAL LOW NUMBER 2 COULD BRING DROUGHT RELIEF

25/02/2008 11:00am

> From the WeatherWatch archives

Summer ends dry but Autumn set to kick off wet

Yet another tropical storm is being predicted to develop this weekend by the Radio Network’s Weather Watch Centre and Head weather analyst Philip Duncan heavy rain is expected right across New Zealand including drought affected farms in Waikato, Manawatu, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa.

“This low is coming in from a similar direction to last weekend’s low however this time the rain will hopefully be driven in at a better angle. It’s also expected to be larger covering far more of New Zealand”. He says while the exact track of this low is still not clear a number of computer models and forecasters are expecting it to affect most of New Zealand. “The rain will develop in the north on Friday night then spread southwards during Saturday and Sunday. There’s even the chance for a third low to follow hot on its heels”.

MetService is also monitoring the low and has a severe weather outlook covering the system for many regions across both Island. They say confidence levels remain low at this stage about whether or not rain warnings will be needed, due to uncertainty about the exact track of the low.

The low in the north could create gales across exposed parts of the North Island, especially Northland, Auckland and further south across Central New Zealand.

Duncan says the weather patterns lately have really swung into typical La Nina patterns with lows forming throughout the Tasman Sea, Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean to the north of New Zealand. “The waters are at their warmest now so low pressure systems and storms are quickly developing. This bodes well for most drought regions across the country”.

And in the South Island a Weather Watch Centre prediction last week that a ‘super low’ would open the gates for wet weather to move in this week across Southland is coming true. “The rest of the week looks showery with more substantial rain predicted on Friday”. However Duncan admits March may start a little drier in Southland and Otago thanks to a high pressure system moving in by the weekend.

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