More of the same this week as fronts defeat ridge of high pressure - Sunday 8 January 2017

MetService News Release
Sunday 8 January 2017

“It has been an especially cool first week of January compared to the historical average. It was a similar story this weekend with periods of wet for many places, especially in the South Island, as a series of fronts moved up the country,” said MetService Meteorologist Ciaran Doolin. “Unfortunately, another week of unsettled weather awaits, as the ridge of high pressure in the Tasman loses its battle with a series of fronts.”

A front moves up the South Island and onto the lower North Island tomorrow, bringing periods of rain to the west and scattered falls further east. The front moves up to the central North Island on Monday, but loses its steam in the morning with rain in western areas easing to isolated showers.

Another front affects the South Island on Wednesday and Thursday, with heavy falls at times on the West Coast and scattered falls in the far south and Otago. Strong northwesterlies affect central and southern New Zealand as this front moves north, with severe gales possible in exposed places. On Friday the front moves northward across the North Island and weakens, followed by westerlies and showers over the South Island.

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