A large low pressure system in the Southern Ocean looks likely to give New Zealand its next taste of chaotic Autumn weather with WeatherWatch.co.nz saying this next low packs wind, rain and maybe thunder.

The low is expected to move into the Tasman Sea around Sunday.  Ahead of this next low are warm west to north west winds – which will push both daytime and nighttime temperatures up across the country and make any frosts highly unlikely for a number of days.

The rain clouds will push into the West Coast late on Saturday then into the North Island’s west during Sunday.  Winds in Wellington and other exposed parts of central and eastern New Zealand are likely to reach gale force at times.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says it’s too early to know exactly how aggressive the low will be – Head weather analyst Philip Duncan explains:

“We think rain warnings are likely for the West Coast and possibly some western parts of the North Island this weekend or around Sunday and Monday.  Gale to severe gale winds are possible in a number of places across the country around Tuesday and as with any large low at this latitude and at this time of the year the mix of warm and cold air often produces thunderstorms – so we may see a variety of rough weather from this next system”.

Mr Duncan says there may also be a southerly change behind it, as there often is with large lows, and snow may be on the cards “We need another day or two to lock things in but this looks like another Autumn system that will bring a big range of weather from sunny and warm at first to wet, windy and cold behind it – especially for the South Island which may be more directly affected”.

Image / GFS map for Sunday shows a deep low near Fiordland, surrounded by gales

– WeatherWatch.co.nz