Weather: Wild weather on way to New Zealand from Australia

A weather system that blasted parts of southeastern Australia with wintry conditions this week is on its way to New Zealand.

The system dragged Melbourne temperatures on Friday down to 13C - just above the 12.2C May record, dumped early snow on Victorian ski fields and brought gale force winds, which blew a mobile phone antenna on to an Adelaide supermarket.

Now it's expected to bring rain, wind and thunderstorms to New Zealand.

The system was being generated by a broad, complex trough, with an active front ahead of it, MetService meteorologist Andy Best said.

The front was already bringing showers to Auckland overnight on Saturday, where the dams that supply the city's water were less than half full last week, and where water-saving measures are already taking place.

"That front is slowing down, by midday tomorrow the front is still a bit to the west of Taranaki."

With a number of Severe Weather Watches and Warnings issued, the Severe Weather Outlook might seem less busy - but don't be fooled. Severe weather is on the cards for much of NZ tomorrow and early next week, see https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X for more ^TA pic.twitter.com/QCy1oNSoHf

— MetService (@MetService) May 2, 2020

That meant scattered falls over much of the North Island, except in the east, and which would be more persistent north of Taupō. Thunderstorms were possible in Taranaki.

Much of the eastern South Island would be mostly fine today, but it would be very wet in the upper and western South Island, where heavy rain warnings were issued for the Buller Ranges and Nelson overnight to 8am, and into the day in the Westland ranges and Fiordland. A strong wind warning was in place for the Canterbury High Country until 1am today.

Heavy rain watches are in place today for Northland and parts of the central North Island, and strong wind watches for Taranaki, Taihape, the Whanganui hill country, parts of the lower North Island and Marlborough. There are no snow warnings.The bleak conditions would continue for many tomorrow, when heavy rain and possible thunderstorms will continue in the northern North Island, and rain and showers in the western South Island, Best said.

The wet would continue on Tuesday, before easing in the North Island later in the day. Rain would develop in eastern parts of the South Island, and showers elsewhere.

Tuesday was also expected to be cold in some areas. Frosts are expected Alexandra, where the temperature would fall to a low of 0C on Tuesday, Best said.

Even Auckland would be relatively brisk. Although the city could still expect highs of 21C today and tomorrow, the temperature would dip to 17C on Tuesday, with a low of 9C overnight.