Latest news with #MmathapeloMakgabutlane
Otago Daily Times
6 days ago
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Risk of deluge dissipates, snow still likely
A large weather system that threatened to bring a major deluge and flooding to Dunedin has moved off to the east of the country. Since the beginning of this week, Civil Defence Emergency Management and the MetService have been keeping a close eye on the front which had potential to bring heavy rain today. MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said a large area of low pressure in the Tasman Sea was forecast to move east across the South Island last night and early today. Once the weather band moved off the country, it was expected to wrap around and lash the eastern part of the South Island with heavy rain. While the weather band was still expected to wrap around, the heaviest falls would now be too far east into the Pacific Ocean to reach the Otago coastline. Initially, it looked serious enough for the Dunedin City Council to notify contractors and ask them to have staff ready to clear leaf fall, check and clear the city's stormwater systems, sweep gutters and check mud tanks. The latest MetService forecast showed there would be occasional rain today, but it was expected to clear in the afternoon, and southerlies would turn westerly. However, MetService is still forecasting some snow about higher parts of inland Otago and Southland on Friday night and Saturday morning. ''Snow is likely to affect some of the higher roads about the south of the South Island and there is a possibility that the snow accumulations above 800 metres in Fiordland, Southland and southern Otago will be enough to require a warning. ''For Stewart Island, the south coast of the South Island and coastal Clutha, there is moderate confidence that southwesterlies will reach severe gale force.'' During King's Birthday weekend, there will be some showers on Saturday in Queenstown and Cromwell, and in Invercargill all weekend, but the remainder of the region will be dry for the entire weekend. Also on Saturday, it is likely that southwest winds about Stewart Island, the south coast of the South Island, and coastal areas of Clutha and Dunedin will warrant a warning. Weekend temperatures will be cooler and are not expected to reach the mid-teens until Monday.
Time of India
09-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
New Zealand severe weather warnings: Heavy rain, thunderstorms expected across North and South Islands
New Zealand is bracing for a wet day on Friday (May 9, 2025) as a large weather system moves across the country. Large parts of the country will receive heavy rain, strong winds, and potential thunderstorms. MmetService has issued multiple warnings and watches for both the North and South Islands. #Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Clash Live Updates| Missiles, shelling, and attacks — here's all that's happening Pakistani Air Force jet shot down in Pathankot by Indian Air Defence: Sources India on high alert: What's shut, who's on leave, and state-wise emergency measures The North Island will face the maximum brunt of the storm with orange heavy rain warnings and severe thunderstorm watches in place for several regions, while the South Island is also expected to experience heavy rainfall, particularly in the upper regions and the ranges. MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane explained that the weather system is moving across New Zealand, bringing northerly winds to the North Island and southerly winds to the South Island. GIF89a����!�,D; 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by "We've got a large weather system moving across us, bringing in that northerly wind for the North Island. However, in the South Island, it is moving up with more of a southerly wind, so it's kind of coming in from two different directions. But for the North Island, (it) is that warmer air that's in circulation, and those northerly winds and bringing in plenty of rain, but also plenty of rain for the South Island as well," she said. Northland is under an orange heavy rain warning, with expectations of 80 to 120mm of rain, which could go up to 150mm in a few areas due to downpours and possible thunderstorms. A strong wind watch and a thunderstorm watch are also in effect for the region. Rainfall could peak at up to 40mm an hour, and there was a small chance of the thunderstorm warning being upgraded to red. Live Events MetService urged Northland residents to clear drains and gutters, avoid low-lying areas, and drive cautiously. "Expect 80 to 120mm of rain, with possibly up to 150mm in localised areas, especially in downpours and possible thunderstorms." Makgabutlane cautioned about the potential for surface flooding due to intense bursts of rain. "With the heavy rain that's in place already, those shorter, intense bursts of rain could bring things like surface planning possibly," she added. New Zealand weather: Cities under watch Severe thunderstorm watches are in place for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, the Coromandel Peninsula the Bay of Plenty, and Rotorua alongside existing alerts for Northland and Taranaki. There was a moderate chance of the rain watch being upgraded to a warning. Orange heavy rain warnings were issued for Northland, the Bay of Plenty, Tongariro National Park, and Mount Taranaki. Heavy rain watches are in effect for Coromandel, Waikato, western Bay of Plenty, and King Country. Heavy rain warnings are in place around Mt Taranaki, the area south of Lake Taupō and Bay of Plenty (east of Whakatane and Gisborne/Tai Rāwhiti, north of Ruatoria). A severe thunderstorm watch is also in place in north Taranaki. The rain in Northland was just starting to arrive as of 7am local time , and heavy falls for Auckland were expected today into the afternoon and evening. Although there were no warnings for the lower North Island, including Wellington, Makgabutlane indicated it was expected to be a "pretty wet day" there, especially from late morning into the afternoon. "I'd say if you're in the North Island today, definitely keep an eye on the radar and the forecast. It is looking like a wet day out there." In the South Island, a heavy rain watch was in place for Nelson, northwest of Motueka, the Richmond and Bryant ranges and the Rai Valley. The ranges in Westland had an orange heavy rain warning, as did the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers. The Canterbury High Country had a strong wind watch in place overnight. "For the South Island, the other place I'll highlight is the top of the South Island - so places like Buller, but especially Tasman and parts of Nelson as well, we're also seeing some heavy rain in that area with a couple of rain watches in place until the early afternoon," Makgabutlane said. MetService meteorologist Heather Keats said the strongest wind gust recorded was 150km/h in Methven high country. "As for the rain, Tasman District has received the most in the last sort of 6 to 12 hours, but actually Hokitika in the last hour had 23mm of rain," she said. Keats said as that front moves north, the South Island would get "a much brighter and calmer afternoon and evening".
RNZ News
08-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Weather: Thunderstorm warning as 'intense rain' heads for North Island
A rain radar showing New Zealand at 7am, Friday 9 May 2025. Photo: Zoom Earth Multiple orange warnings have been issued for the North Island, and it is not looking much better down south. MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said the wet weather was coming from the north. "We've got a large weather system moving across us, bringing in that northerly wind for the North Island," she told Morning Report on Friday. "However, in the South Island, it is moving up with more of a southerly wind, so it's kind of coming in from two different directions. "But For the North Island, [it] is that warmer air that's in circulation, and those northerly winds and bringing in plenty of rain, but also plenty of rain for the South Island as well." First in the firing line will be Northland. "They've got several watches and warnings in place - an orange heavy rain warning for widespread areas, with those rainfall amounts heading towards that warning criteria," Makgabutlane said. "But also within that, today we could see brief periods with more intense rain over a shorter space of time, those local localised downpours. So that will definitely be something to watch." As of 7am Friday, MetService had Northland under an orange heavy rain warning, and two watches - one for strong winds, the other thunderstorms. "Expect 80 to 120mm of rain, with possibly up to 150mm in localised areas, especially in downpours and possible thunderstorms." Rainfall could peak at up to 40mm an hour, and there was a low chance the thunderstorm warning could be upgraded to red. MetService urged locals to clear drains and gutters, avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously. "With the heavy rain that's in place already, those shorter, intense bursts of rain could bring things like surface planning possibly," Makgabutlane added. "It's less of a risk for places like Auckland, but still something to keep in mind for today." Auckland was under watches for heavy rain and strong winds. "Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria and possibly exceed them in localised areas, especially in downpours," MetService said. There was a moderate chance of the rain watch being upgraded to a warning. As for the rest of the North Island, there were heavy rain watches in Coromandel, Waikato, western Bay of Plenty and King Country. Heavy rain warnings were in place around Mt Taranaki, the area south of Lake Taupō and Bay of Plenty (east of Whakatane and Gisborne/Tai Rāwhiti, north of Ruatoria). A severe thunderstorm watch was also in place in north Taranaki. Though there were no warnings for the lower North Island, including Wellington, Makgabutlane said it was looking like a "pretty wet day" there "especially later this morning into the afternoon". "I'd say if you're in the North Island today, definitely keep an eye on the radar and the forecast. It is looking like a wet day out there." Further south, it was "looking like another wet day" also. "We're seeing some light stuff this morning, but as we head into the afternoon, that weather system does move across and does bring some rainfall with it." A heavy rain watch was in place for Nelson, northwest of Motueka, the Richmond and Bryant ranges and the Rai Valley. The ranges in Westland had an orange heavy rain warning, as did the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers. The Canterbury High Country had a strong wind watch in place overnight. It was due to expire at 2am, but was still showing on the MetService site at 7am Friday. "For the South Island, the other place I'll highlight is the top of the South Island - so places like Buller, but especially Tasman and parts of Nelson as well, we're also seeing some heavy rain in that area with a couple of rain watches in place until the early afternoon," Makgabutlane said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
NZ Herald
08-05-2025
- Climate
- NZ Herald
Weather: Bay of Plenty under heavy rain warning, possible thunderstorms
Home / Bay of Plenty Times SunLive 8 May, 2025 10:26 PM 2 mins to read A heavy rain warning is in place for the Bay of Plenty region through to Saturday morning. MetService issued the orange warning for Bay of Plenty east of Maketu, including Rotorua, until 6am Saturday. The agency said the area could expect 100 to 140mm of rain, mainly about the ranges with downpours possible. A severe thunderstorm watch is also in place from 5pm to 11pm Friday. 'An active trough is expected to bring a period of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms to Bay of Plenty this late afternoon and this evening. 'There is a moderate risk of localised downpours of 25 to 40 mm/h with this trough.' 'Rainfall of this intensity can cause surface and/or flash flooding, especially about low-lying areas such as streams, rivers or narrow valleys, and may also lead to slips,' the MetService said. 'Driving conditions will also be hazardous with surface flooding and poor visibility in heavy rain.' A heavy rain watch remains in place for areas west of Maketu and Coromandel until 10pm Friday. Things set to clear for Mother's Day weekend Despite the unsettled end to the week, conditions are forecast to improve over the weekend with fine and mild weather expected across most of the country. MetService forecaster Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said this bad weather is 'looking fairly relatively short-lived, so by Saturday morning all this weather looks like it's cleared off the country and the weekend is looking pretty good'. MetService said Mother's Day was shaping up to be settled and sunny for most, though some regions may experience morning cloud or fog.
RNZ News
08-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Weather: 'Intense rain', 'pretty wet day' ahead for North Island
A rain radar showing New Zealand at 7am, Friday 9 May 2025. Photo: Zoom Earth Multiple orange warnings have been issued for the North Island, and it is not looking much better down south. MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said the wet weather was coming from the north. "We've got a large weather system moving across us, bringing in that northerly wind for the North Island," she told Morning Report on Friday. "However, in the South Island, it is moving up with more of a southerly wind, so it's kind of coming in from two different directions. "But For the North Island, [it] is that warmer air that's in circulation, and those northerly winds and bringing in plenty of rain, but also plenty of rain for the South Island as well." First in the firing line will be Northland. "They've got several watches and warnings in place - an orange heavy rain warning for widespread areas, with those rainfall amounts heading towards that warning criteria," Makgabutlane said. "But also within that, today we could see brief periods with more intense rain over a shorter space of time, those local localised downpours. So that will definitely be something to watch." As of 7am Friday, MetService had Northland under an orange heavy rain warning, and two watches - one for strong winds, the other thunderstorms. "Expect 80 to 120mm of rain, with possibly up to 150mm in localised areas, especially in downpours and possible thunderstorms." Rainfall could peak at up to 40mm an hour, and there was a low chance the thunderstorm warning could be upgraded to red. MetService urged locals to clear drains and gutters, avoid low-lying areas and drive cautiously. "With the heavy rain that's in place already, those shorter, intense bursts of rain could bring things like surface planning possibly," Makgabutlane added. "It's less of a risk for places like Auckland, but still something to keep in mind for today." Auckland was under watches for heavy rain and strong winds. "Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria and possibly exceed them in localised areas, especially in downpours," MetService said. There was a moderate chance of the rain watch being upgraded to a warning. As for the rest of the North Island, there were heavy rain watches in Coromandel, Waikato, western Bay of Plenty and King Country. Heavy rain warnings were in place around Mt Taranaki, the area south of Lake Taupō and Bay of Plenty (east of Whakatane and Gisborne/Tai Rāwhiti, north of Ruatoria). A severe thunderstorm watch was also in place in north Taranaki. Though there were no warnings for the lower North Island, including Wellington, Makgabutlane said it was looking like a "pretty wet day" there "especially later this morning into the afternoon". "I'd say if you're in the North Island today, definitely keep an eye on the radar and the forecast. It is looking like a wet day out there." Further south, it was "looking like another wet day" also. "We're seeing some light stuff this morning, but as we head into the afternoon, that weather system does move across and does bring some rainfall with it." A heavy rain watch was in place for Nelson, northwest of Motueka, the Richmond and Bryant ranges and the Rai Valley. The ranges in Westland had an orange heavy rain warning, as did the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers. The Canterbury High Country had a strong wind watch in place overnight. It was due to expire at 2am, but was still showing on the MetService site at 7am Friday. "For the South Island, the other place I'll highlight is the top of the South Island - so places like Buller, but especially Tasman and parts of Nelson as well, we're also seeing some heavy rain in that area with a couple of rain watches in place until the early afternoon," Makgabutlane said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
