Powerful swells and strong wind forecast. - Monday 07 May 2018

MetService News Release
Monday 07 May 2018

MetService is forecasting a wide variety of weather for New Zealand over the coming week. The start of the week sees westerlies across New Zealand, prompting a Severe Weather Warning and Watch for strong winds about parts of the South Island during Tuesday to early Wednesday. The westerlies give way to a ridge of high pressure on Wednesday. However, as the weather settles down under the ridge, significant sea swells are forecast to spread around New Zealand coastlines. Late in the week a trough pushes out the ridge, bringing an end to the settled weather.

"Westerlies affect New Zealand over the coming days," said MetService Meteorologist Hannah Moes. "The resulting weather of this westerly pattern is rain or showers for western areas, particularly the South Island, and a mostly fine and dry start to the week for eastern areas." Ms Moes continued,"It's not until later Wednesday that we see a breakdown of this westerly regime, with a ridge of high pressure taking hold and bringing in more widespread settled conditions. However, at this time of year, settled weather can mean fog becomes a concern in the overnight and early morning periods.”

Significant swells are forecast to arrive about New Zealand coasts during Wednesday, particularly the south of the South Island, and the western coastlines all the way to Northland.

"A low pressure system near Tasmania is generating powerful swells, which are expected to impact New Zealand’s south and west coasts during Wednesday", said Moes, "In addition to the high waves, is the long period or wavelength, meaning the waves also have a high energy. This may be tempting to surfers around the country, but can make beaches and bar crossings dangerous and bring potential for damage around vulnerable coastlines".

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