Severe gales and heavy rain is expected to whip through Wairarapa today as a sub-tropical weather system that recently caused flooding in New South Wales hits New Zealand.
Metservice said there was likely to be severe gales in Wairarapa today, and heavy rain in the Tararua Range.
It said the retreat of bad weather wasn’t expected to last long, with strong northeasterlies and further rain to saturated areas ready to hit some regions.
“The weather is expected to deteriorate even more today as a broad area of low pressure containing several fronts moves onto New Zealand. Rain is forecast across the entire country, with heavy falls likely in northern and western regions.”
Metservice said the system was expected to hit the nation and linger until the weekend.
Severe weather watches haven’t been issued for Wairarapa yet, despite a degree of confidence that severe gales and heavy rain would hit the region.
Metservice said further warnings and watches were likely to be added in the coming days.
There were no thunderstorm watches issued as of late Wednesday.
“A front is expected to stay slow-moving in the far north of the North Island on Wednesday, while a ridge dominates central and southern New Zealand.
“A deep low associated with fronts and troughs from the north Tasman Sea should affect New Zealand [today], bringing strong winds and rain to northern and central New Zealand.”
Metservice said cold air could spread across the South Island from late today to Saturday.
Niwa Weather has forecast Masterton’s temperatures to reach a low of minus two degrees Celsius, and a high of 11 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures look slightly warmer for the rest of the week; today has a low of six degrees Celsius and a high of 12 degrees Celsius, tomorrow is set for a low of eight degrees Celsius and a high of 13 degrees Celsius.
Niwa Weather said temperatures were set to drop again on Sunday, with a low of four degrees Celsius and a high of nine degrees Celsius.
Up to 19mm of rain could be expected to fall on tomorrow, and 14mm on Sunday.
Metservice said the low-pressure system should weaken as it moves northwards over the North Island tomorrow.
Metservice said earlier this week that the first burst of rain for northern and central New Zealand would hit on Tuesday.
It said temperatures across the nation would differ tomorrow, with maximum temperatures in the low 20s are forecast for northern parts of the country affected by the sub-tropical weather system.
Single digit highs would be common in the southern half of the South Island.
Meanwhile, Castlepoint’s marine forecast has also been spared a warning while severe marine gale warnings circle most of the North Island.
Wind is expected to pick up slightly to a 15-knot southerly. Winds would become variable at 10 knots again in the evening.
Winds at Castlepoint are expected to increase to 30 knots early today, becoming northwest 20 knots at mid-day.
In the evening, winds would change to 20 knots in the south.
Saturday’s sea is expected to become rough with a heavy southwest swell offshore. The swell is expected to ease to a moderate northeast swell.
