Newsfeed: Storm off eastern North Island peaking in power: Severe gales & heavy rain (+20 Maps)
25/06/2024 10:25am
Last Updated 10:24pm Tuesday — Low pressure has transferred from west of NZ to east of the country on Tuesday with a new centre rapidly deepening just east of East Cape. “Deepening” refers to the air pressure at the centre of the low dropping, creating a more powerful low pressure zone with strong to gale force winds developing around it.
The low will be offshore over the Pacific Ocean, but as it grew on Tuesday PM rain and gales increased out from the centre and then expanded into the eastern North Island – placing Gisborne and Northern Hawke’s Bay directly in the firing line for wind and rain, but neighbouring regions also have some risks.
See current MetService warnings and watches here.
Subtropical airflows, the high altitude jet stream north of NZ, and the pool of low pressure and colder air over parts of our country are all giving this low the ripe conditions to become more intense.
Here’s a snapshot in time of four of the world’s best computer models for 9pm Tuesday (as of 3pm Monday):
KEY:
↖Black Arrows represent potential for damaging winds.
💧Rainfall shows 24 hour forecast rainfall 11pm Mon – 11pm Tue.
Fog risks are again high early on Tuesday morning around parts of NZ before any windy weather kicks in – but it’s worth noting the wind from this newly forming low pressure centre will help lift that fog for the North Island during the morning, likely earlier than some places saw it lift on Monday…the time will vary depending on how fast the low strengthens.
You can view fog graphs in our new WeatherWatch App under “Trends”, they update hourly.
The South Island isn’t so affected by this low at this stage, but the north-eastern corner will likely get some of the rain and it’s possible that cloud, drizzle, patchy rain and colder easterly quarter winds will slide right down the eastern coast for a time.
The low is expected to continue in this location all week – but will weaken as we head towards Thursday/Friday with peak power possibly Tuesday PM and Wednesday AM.
A narrow ridge of high pressure moves in to NZ later on Wednesday and into Thursday and Friday (ahead of the next cold front this Friday and Saturday) pushing this east coast low away from land.
- Maps powered by Weatherzone, graphics created by WeatherWatch
- WeatherWatch.co.nz
Comments
Latest Video
VIDEO: NZ’s 7 Day Rainfall + 3 big northern hemisphere storms
We track the regions most (and least) likely to receive rain over the next week while major storms hit the…
Related Articles
VIDEO: NZ’s 7 Day Rainfall + 3 big northern hemisphere storms
We track the regions most (and least) likely to receive rain over the next week while major storms hit the…
High pressure moves closer, but showers & winds don’t ease for all (+4 Maps)
A south-west flow covers NZ on Friday with high pressure over the Tasman Sea inching closer for the weekend –…
VIDEO: High pressure flirts with NZ, we track the showers & wind
High pressure moves closer to NZ this weekend and brushes northern parts of the country next week. Despite the high…
Add new comment