Here’s what is making the weather headlines today…

#CycloneKEVIN is already Category2⃣. Now forecast to become a Severe Category 3 cyclone.

Official tracking from Fiji Met: https://t.co/eQgpg8hGdQ pic.twitter.com/TaJJIeBMxc

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) March 2, 2023

✅Good News: Severe Tropical Cyclone JUDY has almost cleared #Vanuatu now.

😡Bad News: The next tropical storm is fast building to the north west.

✅Good News: At this stage, no tropical cyclones in the SW Pacific next week (but some lows to monitor).https://t.co/gb7E1qu1nD pic.twitter.com/htpsso3SVX

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) March 1, 2023

🌀🌀#CycloneJUDY has a twin… called #96P.

Those who have watched our weather videos this week will know there is another storm basically connected to Judy & will track directly behind her. Again, no threat to NZ at this stage. More details in our next video by noon today. pic.twitter.com/0CH4cH5w2f

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) March 1, 2023

HOT IN CANTERBURY

Mostly sunny conditions, light winds and warm temperatures in the atmosphere above ground level influence warm temperatures at the surface today. This is especially for true for Canterbury where high’s reach into the late twenties, perhaps hitting 30 in some spots.

RAIN ON FRIDAY

Rain moves in for parts of the West Coast from Friday afternoon, we also have a cold front moving into Southland late afternoon bringing rain there. Into the evening and overnight showers push up the east coast of the South Island with a southwest change moving through. North Canterbury may get a slightly more persistent period of rain overnight.

The North Island has a much drier Friday, isolated showers are possible about the Central North Island though, one or two could be heavy then clearing later on.

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STILL A CHANCE OF THUNDER ON SATURDAY

The Nelson / Tasman regions for the South Island then the ranges of Hawkes Bay / Gisborne and the Central Plateau for the North Island holds the chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon on Saturday.

Any storms that form about the top of the South Island will be due to advancing cold air in the upper atmosphere and sufficient surface temperatures and moisture, plus a northerly sea breeze converging inland about the ranges with the general southerly quarter airflow.

Any North Island storms will be due to similar factors but surface moisture and temperatures will likely be higher than the top of the South Island meanwhile the upper air is not as cold.

Either way it’s due to an imbalance in the atmosphere and storms can result in these set ups. Check out our thunderstorm page here where you can check out the thunderstorm risk potential from Metservice, you’ll be able to see their thoughts on Friday regarding any potential storms on Saturday.

In the earth.nullschool.net image below you can see where the streamlines are converging and how it is where showers are forming in the above image.