Tropical air brings warm temperatures

MetService News Release

25 Feb 2016

Tropical air brings warm temperatures

Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston, currently category 1 and located over open waters southeast of New Caledonia, is moving southwest into the Tasman Sea. As Winston crossed latitude 25 south early this morning, MetService New Zealand’s Tropical Cyclone Warning Centre (TCWC) took over responsibility from the Fiji Meteorological Service for issuing all official advisories and bulletins about TC Winston.

“TC Winston is expected to pass north of Norfolk Island overnight, then to track westward towards the mid-Tasman Sea. As it does, it will lose its tropical cyclone characteristics and evolve into a mid-latitude low,” said Communications Meteorologist Lisa Murray, “The risk of this low then tracking across or directly impacting New Zealand is diminishing day by day.”

While TC Winston moves westward, the northerly flow to the east of the cyclone is expected to push humid, sub-tropical air across the North Island from Friday evening into the weekend. The humid air is expected to bring patchy rain to many places in the North Island this weekend, though the rain could be more significant for central areas from Taranaki across to the Kaimanawa Ranges. Auckland and Northland are more likely to see cloud and drizzle. “This humid sub-tropical air will also bring muggy temperatures,” said MetService Meteorologist Claire Flynn. “Overnight lows in the late teens or early twenties are likely for much of the North Island this weekend.”

Hot temperatures are expected to continue for some places in the east of the South Island, due to gusty northwesterly winds combined with warm air from Australia. However, the lower South Island has cooled off briefly today with a southerly change. Looking ahead, it is expected to heat up in the east on Friday before another southerly front cools things off in the south on Saturday and then moves further up the South Island on Sunday. Periods of rain in the west and south of the South Island are expected to ease to a few showers on Saturday while Canterbury, Marlborough and Nelson will remain mostly fine throughout the weekend.

Meanwhile, back in the tropics there is a tropical depression lying well northeast of Rarotonga which could potentially develop into a tropical cyclone in the next couple of days. For more information about what is going on in the Pacific, visit http://info.metraweather.com/e/60812/ings-tropical-cyclone-activity/7f3j86/288661917

Official Severe Weather Watches and Warnings are reviewed and re-issued by MetService at least every twelve hours, and more often if necessary. To get the most up to date information on severe weather around the country, or any other forecasts, see metservice.com or on mobile devices at m.metservice.com. You can also follow our updates on MetService TV, at MetService New Zealand on Facebook, @metservice and @MetServiceWARN on Twitter and at blog.metservice.com

MetService issues Warnings, Watches and Outlooks for severe weather over New Zealand.

Warnings are about taking action when severe weather is imminent or is occurring. They are 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. They are issued only when required.
Recommendation: BE READY

Outlooks are about looking ahead, providing advance information on possible future Watches and/or Warnings. They are issued routinely once or twice a day.
Recommendation: PLAN

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