Most parts of NZ have got cloudier skies and a slightly cooler day ahead compared to the heat that kicked off this week. Here are the 3 main headlines for the first Friday of 2022.

CLOUD COVERS NZ – EXCEPT IN OUR RAINFOREST
Thick cloud is spreading over much of Aotearoa / New Zealand today bringing some relief from the heat that has impacted the country all week. Daytime highs will be several degrees lower for many places as a new high pressure system starts to move in.

Interestingly, one of the sunniest parts of the country today will be Milford Sound and Fiordland – NZ’s wettest region.

Hotter weather returns to most places by Sunday or Monday.

NO BIG RAINMAKERS IN SIGHT YET
Rainmakers are mostly unable to reach NZ (apart from the odd end of day downpour here and there) due to so much high pressure. The tropics remains busy around Fiji and rainmakers continue to impact Australia’s south eastern corner. But for the next week ahead most of NZ leans drier than average.

BIGGER WAVES IN SOME AREAS
The number of drownings so far this summer is devastating and despite the settled weather on land, offshore it’s a different story with larger waves moving up the eastern side of NZ (mostly Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne, where waves may exceed 3 metres today).

Another surge of bigger waves moves into the upper western North Island today with waves of 2 to 3 metres.

All waterways are dangerous but WeatherWatch.co.nz wants to remind people that FRESH water, such as rivers and lakes, can be more dangerous than the sea – simply due to the fact that if you run into some trouble, you’re more likely to sink in fresh water. Salty water helps you float. When you’re out of breath that’s when you’ll notice it most. Please take extreme care in the water and know your limitations. All waterways have dangers to some degree.