A changeable week ahead

“Today marks a record for Whanganui,” said MetService meteorologist Andy Best, “As of 9am this morning, Whanganui recorded a 40-day run with less than 1mm recorded each day in the gauge. This beats the previous record for continuous dry days which was 38 days as of 16th March 2013 (data since 1937).”

After such a dry run, MetService is forecasting that many places, including Whanganui, will see rain at times this week, and temperatures will see-saw in some places with a changeable weather situation in the lead up to Christmas Day.

After some thunderstorm activity in central areas on Monday, most of the North Island will see fine conditions on Tuesday, although showers develop Tuesday evening in the south, ahead of a front. This front delivers a period of rain in the west of the South Island, possibly heavy from Fiordland, to Clutha, and accompanied by southwest gales.

On Wednesday, temperatures will be noticeably cooler as southerly winds spread over the North Island delivering a few showers, but winds gradually ease during the day. The southerlies also ease over the South Island on Wednesday, but yet another front approaches from the Tasman Sea.

On Thursday, strengthening northwesterlies ahead of this front are forecast to bring warmer temperatures to eastern parts of the island during the morning, but temperatures drop again later in the day as cooler southerlies dig in behind the front.

“On Wednesday, we expect Christchurch to reach 19 C but 27 C on Thursday, with similar conditions for Masterton,” added Best, “The cool southerly reaching as far north as Wairarapa late Thursday is forecast to some bring showers.”

Finally, on Friday, a ridge of high pressure spreads over the whole of the South Island, bringing fine conditions there.

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