3:45pm Update

Winds are now easing across New Zealand following a stormy 36 hours that saw winds gusting to 190km/h on Mt Hutt, 100km/h in Christchurch and 130km/h on the hills around Wellington.

The winds have increased in Auckland this afternoon with gusts to around 70km/h in exposed regions however the high centred north of New Zealand is holding firm and as high pressure moves in from the Tasman Sea the country is in for a ‘breather’ period tomorrow with much lighter winds nationwide.

Gusts around Wellington have dropped to 70km/h down from 120km/h earlier today.  The warm winds have also helped fan temperatures along the North Island’s east coast with Hasting’s making 25 degrees today.

Invercargill is still being exposed to strong westerlies with gusts over 70km/h in the past hour.

11:30am update

The main front is moving up the South Island but is weakening as it pushes into a large high pressure system over the North Island and is falling apart.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says behind the front a significantly cooler pool of air has moved in with plenty of temperatures around half of what they were yesterday.  “Yesterday Timaru reached 27 degrees but today it’s only on 12”.

But the winds are expected to ease over central New Zealand later today and a very large area of air pressure is going to develop right over the country.  In fact, the high will have a number of centres stretching from Australia, right across the Tasman Sea and out east of New Zealand.

Mr Duncan says this will bring more settled weather, especially tomorrow, to much of the country, but says the breather will be short.   “More winds will return on Friday and spread northwards for the weekend.  The weekend isn’t looking as settled as last weekend was”.

 

STORM STATS:

Winds around Stewart Island and south west Fiordland frequently over 100km/h with gusts to almost 150km/h.

Very high temperatures along the east coast with Timaru hitting 27, Dunedin , Alexandra and Kaikoura making 26 and 25 across Hawkes Bay & Oamaru.

Gusts recorded to 190km/h on Mt Hutt.

Wellington blasted by gales for over 24 hours with gusts to 130km/h on the Rimutaka Ranges.

100km/h gusts in Paraparaumu this morning.

Very warm last night in the South – with a number of towns and cities along the east coast above 20 degrees at 9pm.