Floods waters Saturday afternoon at Whangarei Falls.  Photo: Paul Herbert, Whangarei Weather Watch Reporter.

Winds are continuing to ease across the North Island with no centres recording gusts over 100km/h.   Wintry conditions have set in to Auckland and Northland with rain left over from yesterday’s storm moving in from the south west.  It’s just 11 degrees across northern New Zealand and with wind chill it feels more like 7 or 8.

The storm has weakened a fair amount this morning and will continue to do so as it moves out into the Pacific Ocean off the Gisborne coast.

The strongest winds are in the North Island’s two largest cities with 90km/h gusts recorded in exposed parts of Auckland and Wellington’s hilltops.  “Everything has certainly calmed down this morning” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan “but the weather feels more miserable today due to the cold”.

The Auckland rain radar currently shows rain moving in from the south west over Auckland and Northland and isn’t likely to ease until later today or tonight.  “Definitely another indoors day in the north”.

Just two weather warnings remain in place by the government forecaster MetService and that is for heavy rain across Hawkes Bay and Gisborne today.

In the South Island and clear skies south of Canterbury have contributed to a very cold start with most places in single digits.  Towns from northern Southland to Central Otago are still only a few of degrees this afternoon.

Forecasters will now be turning their attention to a large area of low pressure set to develop in the Tasman Sea on Tuesday.  “Yep, it could be a case of ‘here we go again’.  More rain and wind, this time affecting both islands” says Duncan.  “We’ll be releasing a more detailed storm forecast by 5pm this afternoon outlining which areas will be most impacted by the system.  At this stage it isn’t looking as severe as yesterday’s storm”.

THANK YOU!

The Weather Watch Centre would like to say “Thank You” to everyone that contributed photos, eye witness accounts and comments yesterday.  It’s your feedback that ensures this site is as up-to-date as possible – you also contribtued to the site’s busiest day ever! 

Cheers!

The Weather Watch Team