Kiwis in the South Island should make the most of today’s “nice clear skies” before a swathe of weather watches and warnings sweep in this weekend.
On Friday afternoon, MetService issued some orange heavy rain watches and strong wind warnings for most of the South Island, and Wellington from late Saturday into Sunday.
MetService meteorologist John Law said there would be more strong winds and heavy rain in store for the weekend.
Law said it would be a “cold frosty night” on Friday into Saturday, with temperatures dropping to below freezing in parts of the North and South Island.
He said Taupō was expected overnight to drop to -3C.
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“So it’s a cold and frosty start today on Saturday, a fine looking story across the North Island through most of the day.
“More cloud down south, showers pushing on towards the western coast, but this next area of rain that runs up from that western coast with some heavy spells of rain through Fiordland and Westland and strong winds on the other side of the hills through parts of Canterbury, Marlborough and even up towards Wellington for the end of the day.”
Law said the strongest winds were expected through the Canterbury High Country, with gusts of around 140km/h expected in the most exposed areas.
Radar damaged by lightning near Hokitika
Yesterday afternoon, MetService said a radar near Hokitika took a direct hit from lightning, causing significant damage to the radome, which was the protective dome at the top of the tower.
“Our radar towers are often the tallest object around, which is just what we need to get a great view of the weather, but it leaves them exposed to lightning strikes,” the forecaster said in a post online.
“Don’t worry though, our meteorologists have plenty of tools to work with. We’ll continue monitoring conditions using satellite imagery, nearby radar sites, weather stations, and computer models to keep delivering accurate forecasts and severe weather warnings.”
Full list of watches and warnings
Strong Wind Warning – Orange
Canterbury High Country – 17 hours from 10pm Saturday to 3pm Sunday.
Fiordland – 12 hours from 6pm Saturday to 6am Sunday.
Heavy Rain Watch
Fiordland about and north of Doubtful Sound – 8 hours from 10pm Saturday to 6am Sunday.
Tasman northwest of Motueka, Buller, Spencer Mountains and St Arnaud Range – 14 hours from 7am to 9pm Sunday.
Richmond and Bryant ranges, Rai Valley – 12 hours from midday to midnight Sunday.
Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers – 12 hours from 3am to 3pm Sunday.
Ranges of the Westland District – 12 hours from midnight to noon Sunday.
Headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers – 7 hours from 1am to 8am Sunday.
Strong Wind Watch
Wellington, Wairarapa south of Greytown, Marlborough Sounds – 20 hours from 2am to 10pm Sunday.
Marlborough excluding the Sounds – 18 hours from midnight to 6pm Sunday.
Canterbury Plains and Christchurch – 12 hours from 3am to 3pm Sunday.
Queenstown Lakes, Central Otago, inland North Otago, Dunedin and Clutha – 9 hours from midnight Saturday to 9am Sunday.
Southland – 7 hours from 11pm Saturday to 6am Sunday.
