Weather News

No Easter respite for parts of New Zealand

Jacobus Cronje, Friday April 14, 2017 - 11:42 AEST

Following a few days of heavy rainfall and squally conditions due to a slow-moving front and low, additional severe weather conditions from ex-Tropical Cyclone Cook continue to be felt over parts of Aotearoa.

A slow moving complex cold front and low pressure system led to significant rainfall and extremely windy conditions over much of the country over the last couple of days. By midday local time on Wednesday 12th, places like Hokitika and Westport on South Island had already received between 60-80 mm of rainfall in 24 hours, while large parts of North Island had received 10-20 mm during the same period.

The remnants of ex-Tropical Cyclone Cook smashed into North Island on Thursday, leading to widespread flooding rainfall and reported destructive wind gusts. By 6pm last night, Tauranga and Purerua had picked up more than 40 mm in just six hours.

Sustained winds of 30-50 km/h were experienced across the country from Tuesday, with sustained winds reaching speeds as high as 60-80 km/h in locations bordering the Cook Strait. Wind gusts were likely significantly stronger.

The former tropical system is currently situated over South Island, and is leading to persistent rainfall and very squally conditions.

Conditions are expected to improve somewhat on Saturday as the system tracks to the south of the country, but rainfall and damaging winds will likely linger over parts of Southland throughout the day.

Unfortunately, a deepening low pressure system to the west of the country is expected to make landfall late on Saturday and on Sunday. Renewed rainfall and very windy conditions are expected over North Island, as well as the northern parts and western margins of South Island well into Easter Monday.

The latest severe weather warnings and cyclone information are available through New Zealand's Met Service at: http://www.metservice.com/national/home

- Weatherzone

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