[ad_1]
Heavy rains, heavy gales and snow are forecast to hit the country this weekend just as school holidays begin.
MetService is forecasting one of the most widespread severe weather events this year with a blast of cold Antarctic air following downpours and high winds.
“There’s a pretty big event going on, pretty much the whole country will see some impact from this system,” MetService meteorologist Andy Best said.
Winds of up to 130 km / h will hit the South Island and the North Island low starting tomorrow afternoon, and the rest of the North Island on Sunday.
The west coast of the South Island will have heavy rains over the weekend.
MetService warns that transportation disruptions are likely to occur, along with difficult conditions for livestock in the South Island early next week, as heavy snow falls to low levels.
This is not something you see every day
How many isobars? Look at the gales in this loop, which are forecast to hit much of the country this weekend, and also how much snow in the Alps is behind. Expect major transportation disruptions to begin school holidays ^ TA pic.twitter.com/RVb69OxzZu– MetService (@MetService) September 24, 2020
The low-pressure system will cross the Tasman Sea on Saturday, drawing warm air ahead.
“A strong jet stream deepens so low, that it passes through the southern tip early Sunday morning,” said MetService forecaster Tom Adams.
“That minimum is expected to be around 970 hPa when it passes us, the deepest minimum in our neck of the woods for a long time.”
The warm air will bring widespread rains that will be heavy in some areas, but Adams said it was the wind that had the greatest risk of causing widespread disruption.
Wales will affect many parts of the country, including areas that do not typically see strong winds, he said.
“Saturday morning will be a good time to prepare for the windy weather. The public is encouraged to secure their properties and piers should check moorings before strong winds arrive.”
The downside is moving rapidly and the rain band will be short-lived in many areas to the north and east.
The winds also begin to abate on Monday, but the “stinger in the tail” is the cold air from Antarctica carried into New Zealand behind the low.
That will leave snow on most of the alpine passes and in Ruapehu, and large swells from the south with a risk of flooding on both coasts.
Snow is expected in Southland and Otago up to 200 meters above sea level, which could cause headaches for farmers during calving season.
MetService said people traveling during school vacations should check their website today for updates on the places most affected.
“It’s not just the weekend … by Monday morning across Fiordland, Southland and the lower and inland Otago winds will be strong again, in exposed areas reaching up to 100 kilometers [an hour].
“By noon, Wellington will be getting strong gusts from the west and northwest, and we will do it all again.”
As of Friday morning, this low is close to Tasmania and will continue to strengthen in the coming days. pic.twitter.com/3Z2TB917A3
– NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) September 24, 2020
[ad_2]
