Many areas have a lull in the rough weather today but the stormy weather isn’t done with New Zealand yet.

20 severe weather warnings have been issued by the government forecaster, Metservice, and WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters say while the North Island is drier and more settled today – Sunday and Monday look very different.

Heavy showers are continuing to push into the West Coast.  High cloud is spreading over Canterbury at times but so far winds remain light in Christchurch – despite an active wind warning predicting gusts of 130km/h.

As we predicted all week showers in Auckland have significantly eased today.  A couple of showers currently remain around the Auckland region and showers will increase later today and into Sunday.

Thunderstorms, with the risk of hail, damaging winds and isolated small tornadoes are also being predicted by WeatherWatch.co.nz for the entire western coastline of New Zealand this weekend.  For Saturday it will be south of Taranaki but into Sunday and Monday they may well shift as far north as Northland.

Strong winds will also spread north today, with gales likely across many exposed North Island areas during Sunday and Monday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says this next burst of severe weather should ease around Tuesday with conditions improving further towards the end of next week.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz