Stormy weather descended on to New Zealand Wednesday with gales in Auckland and thunderstorms again around Canterbury.
A dozen weather warnings have been issued with heavy rain in central and western parts of the North Island and heavy snow possible to 400 metres in southern regions also of the North Island.
You can find all the current weather warnings here.
Winds have eased a little this evening across Auckland. Earlier this afternoon gale force nor’westers, averaging 100km/h at times, were been gusting close to 140km/h on the Manukau Heads west of Auckland Airport. Gusts have now eased back a little to 120km/h.
Across the city itself gusts are still reaching 70km/h with severe gusts likely affecting the Harbour Bridge.
WeatherWatch.co.nz predicts there may be delays with ferry services this evening due to rough seas and advises motorists to be aware of strong winds on the Harbour Bridge.
In Canterbury a thunderstorm this afternoon saw temperatures fall behind it to just 7 degrees. A southerly gusting 60km/h was making conditions feel colder.
A few thunderstorms were detected around Canterbury but have now eased however the free and live Lightning Tracker at WeatherWatch.co.nz is detecting hundreds of strikes out in the Tasman Sea as the same low that created Sydney’s dust storm moves towards New Zealand.
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Peter on 23/09/2009 7:25pm
I am in Levin.. Can tell it is snowing on the Tararuas as I type this.. Not a breath of wind here.. Yet..
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Claire on 23/09/2009 11:17am
Looks like quite an active lightning storm off the West Coast of Northern New Zealand at the moment (11.15pm). That low in the Tasman is looking impressive on the satellite imagery, too.
Is this weather pattern likely to drag the dust Sydney experienced over to New Zealand in the next few days?
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JohnGaul on 23/09/2009 7:49am
Yes, there was the sound of thunder around West Melton as the ‘Southerly Buster’ came through against a NE around 2pm. 2 days in a row of the sound of thunder, not bad.
JohnGaul
NZThS
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Guest on 23/09/2009 4:51am
whats masterton got in store?? herd maybe snow
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WW Forecast Team on 23/09/2009 4:56am
MetService predicts snow down to 400m, so maybe on the hills!
Cheers
WW
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CHC Man on 23/09/2009 3:54am
There were thunderstorms in Christchurch? Must’ve been very mild – didn’t hear a single rumble.
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WW Forecast Team on 23/09/2009 3:59am
Have changed from Christchurch to "Canterbury" as it was further inland.
Cheers
WW Team
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Guest on 24/09/2009 7:04am
Hey, nice to see Canterbury is mentioned, often seems to be only North Island weather. Just thought I’d note that there has been no thunder at Oxford today but a bit of sleet/snow. Will be interesting to see what is yet to come.
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