Heavy swells ate chunks out of Cape Palliser Rd in April. PHOTO/FILE
Waves up to 6m high were expected to hit the Wairarapa coast yesterday, while heavy rain and strong winds are set to return.
Metservice said significant combined waves of 6m or more coinciding with high tide could smash the Wairarapa coast between Turakirae Head and Maitakona today.
It said if waves didn’t hit, swells of 4m or more with a period of 14 seconds coinciding with high tide could litter the coast.
In addition to large waves, winds of up to 25 knots northeast are expected in the Castlepoint marine area today.
Today, winds are expected to rise to 35 knots from the northeast, changing to 30 knots northwest in the afternoon.
Today’s sea is expected to become very rough.
The region was hit by heavy rain, and strong wind on Saturday, with thunder heard across the region since late last week.
A peak gust of 150kmh was recorded at Adrienne Staple’s Featherston farm on Saturday, with winds topping 100kmh for over an hour.
Further north, 118kmh gusts were recorded at the Castlepoint Station.
Metservice said a heavy rain watch is in place for the Tararua Range until 1pm today.
It said to expect a period of heavy rain with rainfall that could approach warning criteria.
A wind watch is also in place for the Tararua Range from 1am until 2pm on today.
“East to southeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.”
Metservice said on Saturday that heavy rain, squally thunderstorms, severe gales, and heavy snow were forecast for parts of the country in the coming days.
“The culprit is a broad trough of low pressure, which is expected to remain with us for several days, bringing unsettled weather.
“Another front is expected to bring a period of heavy rain and strong northerly winds to parts of northern and central New Zealand today.”
Metservice’s severe weather outlook said there was low confidence for warning amounts of rain in the Tararua District and Wairarapa from late Monday until today.
“The trough of low pressure should then move eastwards during Wednesday and Thursday, while a subtropical low is forecast to approach the North Island from the north Tasman Sea late Thursday.”
