Make the most of calmer conditions this week, it’s about to get windier in Bay of Plenty – that’s the message from WeatherWatch.co.nz to those dealing with the Rena clean up. 

As a weak front moves into the North Island on Thursday it is expected to lose its puff as it heads closer to Bay of Plenty – possibly not even making it that far north.

Calmer weather, thanks to a large high, looks set to control things for the coming weekend and into early next week – but by Wednesday it changes.

“We have another low in the Southern Ocean and approaching front from the west.  It means windier weather, mostly from the north west or west for the Bay of Plenty region” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.  “We may even see this windier weather lingering for another seven days following on from next Wednesday”.

But Mr Duncan says severe weather isn’t in the picture at this stage.  “It will be windy offshore but at this stage it’s not a major storm for New Zealand”.

“We’ll be tracking this Southern Ocean low closely but it looks as though any severe weather is more likely south of Bay of Plenty”.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the westerly wind direction , despite being strong later next week, will favour flatter seas for those working on the ship, as opposed to easterlies – which help build the sea up.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz