Antarctic blast scheduled for South Island in late September, ‘significant weather event’ on the way

MetService warns that a “significant severe weather event” is expected this weekend, as an Antarctic blast hits the South Island to end the month, and daylight savings time begins.

Severe weather advisories are likely to be issued today as wild weather approaches and MetService urges people to be vigilant about the weather forecast, especially if traveling this weekend.

“An active front is forecast to move east through New Zealand over the weekend, preceded by a strong, wet flow from north to northwest and followed by a strong, cold flow from west to southwest in the early morning. next week, “says MetService.

“This front generates a period of heavy rain in some western areas, strong gales in many places, and low-level snow in the western and southern parts of the South Island.”

Severe gales are at stake in many parts of the country and could make driving dangerous, especially for high-sided vehicles and bicycles.

Over the weekend, heavy rains are likely to approach warning levels in Fiordland, southern Westland, and the headwaters of Canterbury and Otago, along with north-northwest winds becoming severe at times.

The Northern Westland, Buller, Nelson and Marlborough Sounds, including the Richmond Range, have a 40 percent chance of wind and rain, MetService said.

In the eastern South Island, there is high confidence, meaning a 60 percent chance, of severe northwest winds for the rest of Marlborough and Canterbury on Saturday and Sunday.

Across the North Island, strong northwesterly gales are likely to hit southern Taranaki, through Wairarapa and up to Wellington from Saturday night through Sunday.

The rest of the North Island has a two-in-five chance of experiencing strong gales, the forecaster said.

Sunday will bring rain with low confidence (20 percent) and fall to warning amounts in Taranaki, King Country, Central Plateau, the eastern Bay of Plenty Ranges and the Tararua Range.

Next week will bring snow to low levels, which forecasters predict will be a challenge for livestock on the South Island.

“On Monday and Tuesday, snow is forecast to reach low levels in the far south, possibly down to sea level, with little confidence of heavy snowfalls above 200 meters in Fiordland, Southland and Clutha,” MetService said.

On top of that, MetService is moderately confident of severe southwest winds in Fiordland, Southland and Clutha.

Snow is expected to be a challenge for cattle on the South Island early next week.

“The combination of strong southwest winds and cold air is likely to stress livestock,” said the forecaster.

Several passes and highways in the South Island may be affected by the snowfall on Monday and Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Desert Rd is likely to receive a blanket of snow at the same time, making conditions dangerous.

MetService Short Forecast:

Northland, Auckland, Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty

The rains subside overnight, then limited to Northland this morning with long periods of goodness elsewhere.

Waikato to the Kapiti Coast, including the Central Highlands

Showers overnight, isolating this morning.

Gisborne and Hawke’s Bay

Showers extended out of the ranges until last night and cleared and are mostly fine today.

Wairarapa, Wellington, also Nelson, Marlborough and Canterbury

Mostly ok with isolated showers at Canterbury this afternoon and evening.

Otago and Southland

Some showers, turning to rain this morning. Rain clearing this afternoon, but persistent rain in eastern Otago.

Buller, Westland, Fiordland

Rains during the night, some heavy, with possible isolated thunderstorms, which diminish today.

Chatham Islands

Nice spells and a possible shower.

MetService Extended Forecast:

Saturday

North Island: Cloudy with isolated showers northwest of Taihape, turning to rain over Taranaki at night. Well elsewhere.

South Island: Showers in the west, turning into rain, possibly heavy. Later, the rain develops over Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury High Country, and Southern Lakes. Partly cloudy elsewhere.

Sunday

Rain, with heavy falls, turning into showers but clearing the eastern regions north of Otago. The snow falls to 600 m over Buller, with a 400 m slope at the southern end.

Monday

North Island: Some showers in the west, snow up to 1000 m. Well in the east and Wellington.

South Island: Rains in the west and south, spreading to other places for a time. Snow up to 500m around Buller, sloping to low levels at extreme south.

Chatham Islands

Good times and gentle winds. Rains and gales from the north that develop on Sunday, turning into rains on Monday with a strong shift to the west.