Your climate: rain to settle throughout the country

Most of the North Island enjoyed good weather on New Years Day, but it was a different story for the South Island, and the rain will spread.

MetService forecaster Aidan Pyselman said the first day of 2021 brought clear skies to much of the North Island, with hot spots reaching 28 ° C in Masterton and Blenheim.

But “it was not so lightning in the south” with rain and thunderstorms in the interior of Canterbury over the hills and mountain ranges.

Thunderstorms in the area from about Oxford south to the Saint Bathans range and the Kakanui Mountains are forecast to become severe and produce localized downpours with rainfall rates of 25 to 40 mm / h.

This can lead to localized flooding. Hail is also possible.

There is also a heavy rain warning for North Otago, Dunedin and Clutha from Balclutha to the north, from today until 11pm tomorrow.

Tomorrow, the rains, some heavy, will become more frequent throughout the country with some thunderstorms and possible downpours.

“Tomorrow is going to be a pretty busy day,” Pyselman said.

Areas affected by the rain will include central North Island, Coromandel, Waikato, and the same locations on the South Island.

“Everything is happening,” he said.

Partygoers in Gisborne could escape bad weather if they are lucky, he said.

“They can dodge it and then the top of the North Island [as well].

“Western coastal areas could also get away with not seeing storm activity.”

The North Island is still forecast to experience some rains on Sunday that will possibly be heavy and stormy in the afternoon in the north and east, clearing to fines in the southwest at night.

On the South Island, rain is forecast Sunday in the south and west and in the Canterbury High Country, decreasing overnight.

Rains are still expected across the country through Monday and some good times are expected on the North Island on Tuesday.