More rain and wind on the way

Weather won't get much better this month, with forecasters saying it will be colder than usual for September. Photo / Dean Purcell

The miserable start to spring is set to continue tomorrow, with more rain and wind on its way for Auckland.

And the weather won't get much better this month, with forecasters saying it will be colder than usual for September.

Thunderstorms had been predicted for Auckland today, but the city was spared with the exception Pukekohe, the Bombays and Hunuas.

Isolated thunderstorms also hit Waikato, the Bay of Plenty and Northland.

WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan said most of the thunderstorms fizzled out over land tonight. However, a few created spectacular forked lightning.

A low sitting over Auckland would bring wind and rain throughout the night and into tomorrow morning, with some isolated power cuts a possibility.

"On Thursday morning winds turn more southwest and remain around gale in exposed areas before easing into the afternoon."

He said these "gusty conditions" would continue until the low cleared the country tomorrow night.

Another low would move in on Friday night and across the weekend, which would bring bursts of wind and rain to the North Island.

MetService meteorologist Georgina Griffiths said September was going to be colder than usual for all of the country after a very wet and cold winter.

She said since the middle of winter New Zealand has generally been running colder than normal, due to a higher frequency of southwesterlies and cooler than usual seas around our coastline.

"This is standard El Nino for us," Ms Griffiths said.

"After an extremely wet winter for the west and south of the South Island, and between Taranaki and the Kapiti Coast, many people are keen to know how the start of spring might unfold," she said.

It was the wettest winter on record for Hokitika Airport, with 1092mm of rain observed.
Record-breaking rainfall was also experienced at Palmerston North this winter, with 413mm recorded, making it the wettest winter since records began in 1943.

It was the fourth wettest winter since 1890 in Wanganui, where 396mm of rain was recorded.

"After a stormy start to September, we should then see a progressive shift towards more highs over the country," Ms Griffiths said.

"The first week of the month should produce significant rain for all regions of the country, including useful rain into the relatively dry eastern areas. But, for the remainder of the month, normal to below normal rainfall is predicted for all areas."

Tomorrow's forecast:

Whangarei:

Morning shower, then increasing fine spells. Westerlies. High 16C Low 8C

Auckland:

Showers, becoming less frequent evening. Westerlies. High 15C Low 10C

Hamilton:

Showers, less frequent afternoon. Westerly breezes. High 15C Low 5C

Tauranga:

A few showers, fine spells increasing. Gusty westerlies. High 16C Low 7C

Wellington:

Rain, clearing afternoon. Southerly gale, gusts of 100km/h. High 12C Low 6C

Christchurch:

Few showers, clear afternoon. Strong southwest eases. High 11C Low 2C

(Source: MetService)