A burst of gales and heavy rain is about to move up the South Island and lower North Island – bringing an unsettled build up to Labour Weekend, but for the most part, clearing this long weekend.

On Wednesday rain on the West Coast will set in – and become heavy as the day goes on. Watch for rain warnings. Downpours continue all day and localised slips and flooding are a possibility.

At the same time strong to gale force nor’westers will move northwards up eastern and central areas.  All of Wednesday sees strong west to north west winds across the South Island and lower North Island, rising to gale in exposed areas and maybe severe gale in the most extreme areas well inland and on the ranges.

By Thursday the rain stalls around central New Zealand (upper South Island and Lower North Island).  Westerlies blow across the North Island and may be gusty at times – but lighter, cooler, sou’west winds move up the South Island.

Then by Friday there is a chance rain may spread across much of the top half of the South Island – bringing rain into dry Canterbury late in the day as a low from the Tasman Sea crosses central New Zealand.  This small low brings another burst of wind, rain and showers to the North Island too – with a sou’west change blowing through on Saturday for much of New Zealand. 

The long weekend is mostly dry – but certainly there will be showers and a few gusty winds about.  We’ll have more details soon on the long weekend outlook.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz