Latest news with #MetService
RNZ News
an hour ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Live: Rain warnings, strong winds, thunderstorms forecast as winter blast arrives
A low pressure system sweeping across Aotearoa has triggered MetService to issue a slew of rain and wind warnings right across the country as winter arrives. MetService said downpours and thunderstorms across the North Island and parts of the South Island would gave way to snowfall on Wednesday night. On Wednesday morning about rain, wind and snow warnings were in place across New Zealand, as a low over the Tasman Sea began to cross the country. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Weather: Orange rain warnings, strong winds, thunderstorms forecast as winter blast arrives
The country is about to be "plunged into winter" with snow to sea level possible in Canterbury and Otago by the weekend, MetService says. A long list of of rain and wind warnings and watches are in place as a winter blast is set to converge on both islands. It's coming from across the Tasman Sea and bringing heavy rain, gale-force winds, and potential snow . Today's rain radar map Photo: Screenshot / MetService The South Island's orange-level rain warnings cover the Tasman District, west of Motueka, from 6am on Wednesday; and Marlborough, northwest of the Richmond Range, and Nelson, east of the city, from 9am. Orange warnings for the North Island kick in for Taranaki Maunga from 7am; Northern Taihape and the southern parts of Taupō and Taumarunui from 10am; the Tararua Range from 11am. Most of these places can expect up to 150mm of rain with peak intensities of 20-30mm per hour, though the upper slopes of Taranaki Maunga could see heavier rain of up to 220mm. A further orange heavy rain warning is in place for Bay of Plenty, east of Whakatāne, and inland Gisborne/Tai Rāwhiti from 8pm on Wednesday into Thursday morning. Heavy rain watches are in place for Fiordland, north of Breaksea Sound, overnight; and Horowhenua, Kāpiti Coast and Wellington from Wednesday morning. Similar watches are in effect from Wednesday afternoon for Northland, Auckland and Great Barrier Island; Buller and Grey Districts south of Karamea; and Westland District, north of Fox Glacier. There's a long list of weather warnings and watches covering most of the country for the next few days. Photo: Screenshot / MetService MetService meteorologist Heather Keats described the list of warnings and watches as "huge" as the system begins to affect the country. She said "significant" wind and rain watches were in place, with some areas under orange rain warnings. "There's also thunderstorms again tied up in this system. So as the fronts travel across, they're going to possibly bring more downpours and we're expecting them to spark up from this afternoon... "We're talking again from about Westland all the way up the west of the entire North Island and as far east as Bay of Plenty." They could deliver up to 40mm of rain in an hour, Keats said, and a potential for flooding. "That warm northerly system meets a very biting southerly and that's when the snow kicks off from about midnight tonight." Canterbury, excluding Banks Peninsula, was under a heavy snow watch, with snow expected to fall above 300m, Keats said. There was the potential for snow at sea level for Otago and Canterbury from overnight on Friday. "So Christchurch, Dunedin you could be seeing some snow for winter as early as Friday night, Saturday. "It does feel like we're going to be plunged into winter because this biting southerly is for the entire country." It meant temperatures would be much colder than usual for this time of year, she said. Strong winds were expected for Wellington, Taranaki, Auckland and Northland. It might make conditions difficult for commuters in major cities, such as Auckland, Keats said. It was unlikely the rain warnings would be upgraded to red although it paid to keep an eye on the rain radar, she said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Cool change: snow and rain for South Island
MetService meteorologist John Law told RNZ's Morning Report programme today conditions this week would kick off the winter to come. "The combination of that cold air pushing up the country and that moisture will mean the return of some wintry weather over the tops of the Canterbury high country. "So those are the regions first off that will find that snow weather. "But by the time we head towards Friday and the weekend, I think all of us will find our temperatures are well and truly colder than it has been." A period of snow was likely for the Canterbury High Country late on Wednesday and it could fall above about 800 metres in the South Canterbury High Country. Law said the weather in coming weeks would be a "pretty good taste" of winter and the region could see snow fall down to 300 metres. In Southland, snow showers were forecast about the Homer Tunnel on the Milford Road (State Highway 94) overnight tomorrow into Thursday and possibly Friday, with snow above 400 metres that day. Meanwhile, a heavy rain watch was in place for Fiordland, north of Breaksea Sound, from 7pm today until 11am tomorrow. Heavy rain watches were also in place for Motueka, Marlborough and Nelson in the Tasman region, all with a high chance of being upgraded to a warning. MetService said surface flooding and slips were possible. - ODT Online and RNZ
RNZ News
a day ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Rain, wind and snow to hit parts of the country as temperatures fall
Canterbury high country is set to be hit with a snowfall. Photo: UnSplash/ Aaron Burden MetService is predicting some wintry weather moving into the first week of June, with temperatures set to fall across the country. Meteorologist John Law told Morning Report the weather this week would kick off the winter to come. "The combination of that cold air pushing up the country and that moisture will mean the return of some wintry weather over the tops of the Canterbury high country. "So those are the regions first off that will find that snow weather. "But by the time we head towards Friday and the weekend, I think all of us will find our temperatures are well and truly colder than it has been," he said. Law said the weather in the coming weeks would be a "pretty good taste" of our coming winter. He added the Canterbury region could see snow fall down to 300 metres. Wind watches are already in place for parts of the Tasman. Photo: Supplied/MetService He said rain watches were currently in place for parts of the Tasman, with more watches for the Bay of Plenty region likely. "On Wednesday another weather front moves in from the North... that brings with it some wet and windy weather." Heavy rain watches are in place for Motueka, Marlborough and Nelson in the Tasman region, all with a high chance of being upgraded to a warning. MetService said surface flooding and slips were possible. A heavy rain watch is also in place for Fiordland and Taranaki Maunga. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Climate
- RNZ News
Strong wind warnings for lower North Island, parts of South Island
Strong wind warnings and watches are in place in parts of the South Island and lower west North Island. Photo: MetService Firefighters have attended multiple weather callouts overnight as strong winds batter the lower South Island, including for fallen trees and roofs lifting off houses. Fire and Emergency New Zealand (FENZ) said it had received 10 callouts in Invercargill since 2am on Saturday, and a few in Dunedin since 5am. A strong wind warning was in force for southern Fiordland, Southland, Stewart Island, Clutha and Dunedin until Saturday afternoon, where severe gale southwesterlies could gust up to 130km/h in exposed places. MetService said the strongest winds were expected overnight on Friday and during Saturday morning. Squally thunderstorms were also possible near the coast during Saturday morning. It said the possible impact was damage to trees, powerlines, and unsecured structures. Motorists were warned that driving may be difficult, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles. "Prepare your property by securing items that can be picked up by strong winds. Drive cautiously" A wind warning was also in place for part of Hawke's Bay and the Tararua District until Saturday night. The weather warnings follow a tornado in Hamilton on Thursday night that caused property damage including a trampoline lifted into powerlines, and a hailstorm that pelted Cambridge that afternoon. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
