MetService says the weather is looking “mostly fine” across the country this weekend, but warns of some “nasty stuff brewing” out over the Tasman next week.
MetService meteorologist Heather Keats told Breakfast people across the country could expect high pressure on Saturday to bring another cold start for most.
“Tomorrow, very similar, high pressure again so another cold start but looking pretty good.”
She said the skies would mostly be fine until Sunday, when some heavy weather was moving in.
“It’s [going to] be a front that approaches the southwest of the South Island, so there will be some heavy rain for the southwest.
“But other than that, mainly dry from sort of Christchurch up to Marlborough and the southeast and then the North Island for Sunday, cloudy periods maybe just one or two isolated showers.”
A warm start to winter?
Keats said some areas may have noticed a drop in temperatures lately but there would be a “warm spell”.
“With winter starting next Saturday, you’ll be happy to know that we actually do have quite a warm spell coming up.
“That front that arrives on Sunday brings with it a moist northerly flow, and with that’s going to be an uptick in temperatures.
“It’s going to be really noticeable for the overnight low sort of from Sunday well into next week. So I mean, with the exception of places like Twizel, most won’t have any frost at all [as] it’s going to be far too warm.
“In fact, those in the North and the upper North will probably be kicking off the winter duvet for next week as well.”
Where may be more disruptive
Keats said there were some unsettled weather systems that Metservice was keeping an eye on, and could lead to watches or warnings.
“Heavy rain to the West Coast; heavy falls later in the evening. Also the winds, we’ve got nor-westerners and could even be some gales for Wellington.”
She said the system would then track over the North Island on Monday, making for “another windy day for Marlborough and for Wellington”.
“It’ll bring that heavy rain with it,” she said.
“On Tuesday, it looks like there’s some rather nasty stuff kind of brewing out over the Tasman. Say that’s still quite far away though, but definitely next week a lot more unsettled than what we’ve had.”
