Here’s what is making the weather headlines this weekend…

RAIN OUTLOOK

The rainfall outlook through to Saturday 6th May shows western regions will be wetter than in the east, eastern Northland, Coromandel and the Bay Of Plenty in particular have the heaviest falls.

While there will be rain for the upper North Island for much of next week it’s a front on Tuesday in particular that brings heavy rain then especially again with another front around Thursday / Friday.

The Nelson region / top of the South Island could be in for some fairly persistent / heavy rain also so another region to keep an eye on. The West Coast sees heavy rain also, especially around Thursday and perhaps Friday although the West Coast is a little more used to getting it’s fair share of heavy rain.

Metservice have started the process of issuing watches, warnings will likely come in due course. You can see this here.

The eastern South Island is looking dry next week, warm too due to northerly airflows. The following week while not able to be confirmed by any means hints at rain in the east then.

The precipitation percentage of normal map below shows red (less rainfall expected than the statistical average), blue (more rainfall expected than the statistical average) and white (average amount of rainfall). The more intense the colour the more either scenario is true.

WARM TEMPERATURES LIKELY

With all the northerly airflows coming up temperatures are likely to be warm for the time of year. It goes without saying the North Island (especially the upper half) will be warm, temperatures in the late teens likely with highs in the early twenties Monday through to Wednesday.

Temperatures for eastern regions of both Islands will often be in the late teens, hitting the early twenties some afternoons. Frosts are not looking likely next week, overnight lows will be warm.

More on temperatures here.

WEATHER ON SUNDAY

A ridge of high pressure lies over the South Island meanwhile a low to the northwest drags a strong easterly airflow over the upper North Island.

North Island

Mostly cloudy with east to northeasterly winds, strong north of the Waikato, quite humid. North of the Waikato expect rain or showers, rain may be heavy about Coromandel and eastern Northland, from afternoon rain becomes more widespread for Northland (still heaviest in the east) then spreads into Auckland in the evening. North of about Hawkes Bay in the east there is the odd spit or shower. The lower North Island should see some sun but there will be high cloud, cloud will thicken and lower later in the day.

South Island

Mostly sunny with light winds, some high cloud is possible especially the upper half (high cloud spreads down from low well to the north). Morning mist of fog possible to start the day. Just South Westland has some cloud and Fiordland a few showers.

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