MetService weather: December 4-5. Video / MetService
Parts of the North Island are set for a sweltering weekend with temperatures climbing above 30C, while the South Island braces for a weather “rollercoaster”.
MetService has issued a heat alert for Oamaru tomorrow after predicting “an unusually hot day for summer”.
This comes after the North Island washit by wet and wild weather as an active low-pressure system crossed overhead yesterday.
MetService said people in most regions will see the sun come back out this weekend.
“Especially in the North Island as high pressure builds and brings settled weather.”
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane told the Herald that although the sun is on the way, some drizzle will stick around in a few North Island regions.
She said these conditions are most likely to occur in mountainous areas and in Northland tomorrow.
Parts of the North Island are in for a sweltering weekend. Photo / MetService
“For the bulk of the island, Saturday is another nice fine day, lots of sunshine. And into Sunday as well,” Makgabutlane said.
She said the sweaty temperatures are particularly impacting the east.
“On Saturday and Sunday, 30C-plus temperatures look very likely in Hawke’s Bay. I see Hastings seems to be one of the warm spots, 31C on Saturday and then 32C on Sunday.”
‘Rollercoaster’ weekend for the South Island
Makgabutlane said the weekend will be more of a rollercoaster for the South Island.
“On Friday, there’s a weak front that moves over the island. Some areas may or can expect a little bit of showers, especially places like Westland, Fiordland, down towards Southland, parts of Otago,” she said.
MetService has a strong wind watch for Southland, Otago and the Canterbury High Country south of Aoraki/Mt Cook tomorrow.
Gusts of 100km/h can be expected, especially inland.
MetService meteorologist Michael Pawley said Saturday will be the pick of the days this weekend in the South Island.
On Sunday, another front will move on to the South Island.
“That looks like it brings quite a decent amount of rain, especially for the western, southwestern portion of the island,” Makgabutlane said.
