Following on from some intense thunderstorm activity over North Otago and Canterbury on Friday and Saturday, the weather is set to improve there, with a couple of fine days on the cards. A number of thunderstorms in Canterbury and Otago over recent days have lit up the Christmas lights in the sky. Methven saw over 50mm of rain yesterday with rainfall rates of 25.6mm/hr recorded under one storm.

However, the South Island is definitely the island to be on for Christmas day, and the further south the better. ‘Queenstown and Wanaka are in for a glorious Christmas day with temperatures reaching the high twenties or low thirties and plenty of sun’, James Millward, a Meteorologist at MetService commented, ‘The further north you go, the more chance of rain and cloud, with heavy, thundery rainfalls expected over the northern North Island’.

A series of fronts are forecast to move slowly southward over the country in the coming days, bringing bursts of heavy rain and possible thunderstorms to the northern North Island, including many of the popular holiday spots. A Severe Weather Watch is already in place for the upper North Island for Heavy Rain to cover this event, whilst a Severe Thunderstorm Watch is valid until this evening for Northland, north Auckland, Great Barrier Island and northern parts of the Coromandel. Rainfall rates associated with these thunderstorms could reach 25-40mm/hr at times.

Rain is expected to spread as far south as the Wairarapa on Christmas Eve, although Wellington should stay dry. But on Christmas morning the capital and the upper South Island can expect to see rain, whilst Christchurch can expect some cloud with fine breaks in the afternoon.

With King Tides expected for the upper North Island over the coming days, alongside onshore northeasterly winds and plenty of rain, there may also be impacts on coastal roads over the Christmas period, including Tamaki Drive.

Over the coming days it will pay to keep up to date with all the latest severe weather information from MetService and drive safely if out and about on the roads during the busy holiday period.

‘The good news for the North Island is that the weather will ease with an improving trend for Boxing Day and the 27th’, James said, ‘whilst the South Island will have more of a showery flavour.’

Warnings are about taking action:
• When severe weather is imminent or is occurring
• Issued only when required
• Recommendation: ACT
Watches are about being alert:
• When severe weather is possible but not sufficiently imminent or certain for a Warning to be issued
• Issued only when required
• Recommendation: BE READY
Outlooks are about looking ahead:
• To provide advance information on possible future Watches and/or Warnings
• Issued routinely once or twice a day
• Recommendation: PLAN

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