Updated 11:21am — Here’s what is making the weather headlines today…

🌀#CycloneGabrielle is continuing to move away from the North Island & is slowly weakening too.

Despite the stormy part moving offshore, NZ is still engulfed in large low pressure – that means some wind & wet weather will linger for another 24 to 48 hours in a fews places. pic.twitter.com/0t9GqCNt5Z

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) February 14, 2023

🌀#8am: The current placement of #CycloneGabrielle east of Gisborne, weakening slowly & continuing to track away from the North Island.

A line of strong southerlies & still some rain from north Canterbury to about Wairarapa – but improving elsewhere.

🇳🇿https://t.co/gb7E1quzdb pic.twitter.com/lnUxDek2VI

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) February 14, 2023

🌀A tracking comparison between Cyclone Bola and Cyclone Gabrielle.

As you can see, it doesn't matter if the centre makes 'landfall' or not when you're dealing with ex-tropical cyclone. The lopsided nature of them means wind & rain & severe weather extends far from the centre. pic.twitter.com/TQAuxpeqpz

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) February 14, 2023

LAST DEPARTING SHOTS

Ex tropical cyclone Gabrielle has a few last departing shots as it weakens moving away to the southeast. Some rain for Canterbury may be heavy, mainly Banks Peninsula northwards through to the Kaikoura area this morning then again in the same spots this evening. Some heavy rain about Wairarapa this morning also then easing.

Finally southwesterly winds up the eastern coastal fringe from Banks Peninsula up through to Mahia Peninsula are strong with gales possible, easing a little overnight.

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NORTH ISLAND THUNDERSTORMS – THURSDAY

Some upper level cooling moves over the North Island on Thursday, this induces some instability bringing the chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon then easing later in the day. Waikato and inland Bay Of Plenty has the greatest chance but Northland and Auckland could see storms also.

Below is a lifted index map for Thursday at 4:00pm, figures below zero are starting to become unstable. The North Island has figures ranging from -2 to -4.