Each day we continue the search for rain or showers over the country with RainWatch and we look at the potential of rain-bearing systems nearing the country in the short to medium term.

Today

A pretty dry day for the country.

Tomorrow

Another dry and settled day.  A few drizzly showers could pop for Gisborne and other parts of the eastern North Island.  There is also a chance for that happening about eastern Otago.  But these will be very light and not beneficial.

A few showers are also possible about the western North Island to Nelson.  But again, even if the showers do develop, what falls will be quite light.

Next week

Strong high pressure will sit over the country and keep things quite dry up until Friday.  That’s when a frontal system is expected to move in from the Tasman.  This could spread some rain over the far southwestern corner of the country.

We still can’t rule out chances for a few showers on a couple of occasions next week in the far south and eastern coasts as we see a continuation of a southwest flow on the eastern and southern edge of the nation which is a similar pattern to this week.

Next weekend

For the first time in six weeks the big picture begins to look unsettled with a low crossing the South island bringing a band of rain or showers to mainly western and southern districts.

This is mostly a South Island event at this point with a few showers possible over the lower North Island.

Week starting Monday March 18th-22nd

This week continues to promise but will it deliver rain/showers?

Initially there’s a more significant frontal system coming off the Tasman Sea but again the Mainland sees the most rain or showers with central and southern areas of the North island possibly seeing a band of showers.

Nor’ westers look to bring rain to the West Coast of the South Island before a southerly sees it swing up southern and eastern areas for a time.

Towards the end of the week a sub tropical low enters the picture for the upper half of the North Island seeing some respite hopefully.

Light to steady rain could fall about parts of Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Gisborne.

WeatherWatch currently has this system as a 30-40% chance of delivering much needed rain.

 

Homepage image/ Christine Johnson

-WeatherWatch.co.nz