Here’s what is making the weather headlines this weekend….

A WINDY WEEKEND

A northwesterly airflow strengthens over the country today, Sunday will see winds at their peak.

Along with wind comes some heavy rain, the West Coast picks up most of this.

There are plenty of wind and rain warnings out from Metservice, see them here.

WEATHER COMING FROM THE WEST

The rain maps below show rainfall accumulations over a week period each. The first map runs from the 15th – 23rd September, the second map runs from 23rd September to 1st October.

As you can see most of the rain is accumulating in the west, therefore most of our weather over the next two weeks is coming in from the west.

For a colour coded key for these maps, please go here.

• 

• 

WEATHER ON SUNDAY

A very strong northwesterly airflow lies over the country with a cold front moving north over the South Island.

North Island

A mix of sun and cloud for Northland, Auckland and Bay Of Plenty with northwesterly winds. Further south in the west expect cloudier skies with the odd shower, eastern regions are dry with high cloud breaking to sun in the afternoon. Northwesterlies for the lower North Island are strong with gales likely for coastal areas and especially through Cook Strait where severe gales are possible. Showers are more likely for Wellington up through to Taranaki in the evening as a front moves in, showers reach into the upper North Island overnight. A few spits of rain spill over into Wairarapa overnight.

South Island

Rain for the West Coast with heavy falls, rain eases from the south in the evening. Nelson has spits or showers from afternoon, perhaps pushing further east into Marlborough at times, any spits or showers clear overnight. Rain for Southland and Otago, rain for Southland in particular may be heavy then easing from afternoon. Canterbury can expect early high cloud clearing to sun, cloud moves through in the afternoon with a few spits spreading from the west as a front moves over. Rain in the high country is heavy spreading from the west. Northwesterlies ahead of this front for the eastern South Island are very strong with gale to severe gale winds likely, changing southwest in behind. Northwesterlies may freshen up again in the evening for Canterbury.

• 

•