Weather: Significant fronts to move over country, bringing rain and strong winds to most places

The above-average autumn weather New Zealand has experienced for most of May is about to change. Photo / Metservice

Be prepared to dust off the brollies this week as two fronts are forecast to pummel most parts of the nation with rain and strong winds.

Rain is expected in most parts of the country this week but MetService has issued specific warnings to several parts of the South Island's West Coast.

Heavy rain watches and warnings are in force for Fiordland, the headwaters of Otago lakes and rivers, and Westland south of Otira, with thunderstorms also expected in these areas.

"This could be a significant rain event and rainfall accumulations are likely to exceed 500mm in some places over a four- or five-day period," MetService meteorologist Kyle Lee said.

Tuesday front

A WET BUT MILD WEEK AHEAD BEFORE WINTRY BLAST The settled weather is set to give way to the usual westerly wind regime this week. A few significant fronts will be moving onto the country which will bring rain as well as strong winds to most places. There is currently Heavy Rain Watches and Warnings in force for Fiordland, the headwaters of Otago Lakes and Rivers, and Westland south of Otira, with thunderstorms also expected in these areas. More details can be found here http://bit.ly/AllWarnings. This could be a significant rain event for the west coast of the South Island with rainfall accumulations likely to exceed 500mm in some places over a four- or five-day period. On Tuesday we see the first of two significant fronts this week which will bring rain to most, as well as snow to around 1200m for the southern South Island. In the video we can see the passage of the front crossing the country on Tuesday. Another significant front is expected to reach the country later in the week towards Thursday and Friday which will leave the country in the wake of cold southwesterly winds just in time for the official start of Winter! More details on these events can be seen at http://bit.ly/metservicenz ^KL

Posted by MetService New Zealand on Saturday, 25 May 2019

The first of two significant fronts moving over the nation will arrive midweek and bring rain to most areas, as well as snow to around 1200m for the southern South Island.

Then, towards the weekend as we approach the official start date of winter, cold southwesterlies are set to pack a punch for New Zealand as the second front arrives.

Meanwhile, the weather for the past week which followed the trend for the month of May - which has been warmer and well above average daytime temperature - is set to move on.

The above-average autumn weather has also seen the country experience less rainfall than usual for May.

"The temperature in Wellington hasn't dropped below double digits since Monday morning, and is not expected to drop below 13C this coming week," Lee said.

"Today's maximum temperatures across the country aren't expected to be below 14-15C for the main centres, well above average for most of the South Island."

A few significant fronts will be moving onto the country which will bring rain as well as strong winds to most places this week. Here is the Severe Weather Outlook from Tuesday to Friday this week. More details can be found here https://t.co/ePtVj8cXwp ^KL pic.twitter.com/yK84yaQPw3

— MetService (@MetService) May 26, 2019