Weather watch: ‘potentially significant weather’ coming NZ’s way

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

MetService is warning of “potentially significant weather” coming New Zealand's way as a low-pressure system could bring long periods of rain to eastern parts of the North Island from Sunday.

While there's some uncertainty of where the low-pressure centre will sit late in the weekend, MetService says there are good indications this system will bring the potential of persistent rain with heavy falls.

“There's a risk that parts of Hawke's Bay and Gisborne will record a month's worth of rain between Sunday and Tuesday, and it potentially doesn't end there,” says MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris.

“This amount of rain would cause disruption and if models keep on the current track, then MetService will be issuing severe weather forecasts closer to the time.”

Meteorologists are closely monitoring a low-pressure system from the northeast as it has the potential to bring a long period of rain to eastern parts of the North Island from Sunday on.

“This is a weather event to keep an eye on developments over the weekend,” Ferris says.