POLAR STORM TO BLAST NZ
The full fury of winter has arrived today with gales, snow and sub zero temperatures for both islands over the next 72 hours.
Currently in Invercargill, where the first front has now passed, the wind chill will be felt right through to the bone. It’s minus 5 with a gale wind gusting to 100km/h. And although this storm will weaken as it moves north, it is going to pack a punch over the entire country.
“Front after cold front will continue to slam into New Zealand right into next week, with the worst weather arriving between now and Saturday” says Head Weather Analyst Philip Duncan. “This is going to be a harsh storm, which may affect any lambs born early”.
Mr Duncan says gales will accompany the snow which will bring wind chills well into the negatives. “We will be seeing wind chills of -5 or -6 in many exposed areas in the South Island south of Otago and around parts of North Island’s Central Plateau”.
Here’s a time line of this polar blast…
Early hours of today (Thurs): Front 1 moves up the South Island. Snow starts to fall in Southland and Otago high country.
Mid Morning: Front number 2 hits Southland while Front number 1 moves into Christchurch.
Noon: Front 1 reaches Cook Strait, temperatures will plummet in Wellington by afternoon.
Tonight: Front 1 reaches Auckland. Front 2 reaches Wellington. Snow lowers in Southland and Otago to near sea level. .
Friday afternoon: Front 3, the coldest of them all, reaches South Island. Snow falls to low levels.
Saturday afternoon: Front 3 moves over North Island. Snow may affect SH1, the Desert Road, and SH5 the Napier Taupo Highway.
Monday: Front 4 arrives with more rain than snow.
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