MetService said Wednesday is likely to be wet and windy over most of the country, as a broad low-pressure system arrives from the Tasman Sea.
It has issued heavy rain watches for Taranaki Maunga, Tasman District west of Motueka and Nelson and Marlborough from early Wednesday morning until early evening.
There is a high chance these watches will be upgraded to a warning.
⚠️As you head back from the long weekend, please keep an eye on the weather forecast as weather across New Zealand is expected to change for the worse. Starting from tomorrow evening, heavy rain is forecast for Fiordland. Rain is then expected to spread throughout the country on… pic.twitter.com/U9HPrR09rF
Brandolino said rain-bearing low-pressure systems could be frequently passing across Aotearoa during the coming winter months.
“That usually brings with it higher chances of rain and warmer temperatures.”
The forecaster also predicted wetter than normal months ahead.
“Maybe you’re not running the heater as often, maybe you’re not wearing the puffer jacket as much. If you’re a snow enthusiast, it may be a bit of a bummer season,” he said.
NIWA Weather says it will be a warmer than average winter for New Zealand. Photo / NIWA
Niwa forecasts the long-term average temperature from June to August to be a balmy 12.5C in Kaitāia.
For the rest of the country, Auckland is forecast to see a long-term average of 11.6C, 9.5C in Hamilton and 8.5C in Masterton.
For the South Island, the average temperature in Nelson would be 8.3C, 7.4C in Christchurch and 7.3C in Dunedin.
Brandolino said the top half of North Island could see wetter than normal conditions.
“The best chances for that are Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Auckland and Northland.”
NIWA Weather predicts higher than average rainfall for the majority of New Zealand this summer. Photo / NIWA
The two wettest places in the North Island would be Kaitāia at 395mm and New Plymouth at 415mm.
The highest average rainfall in the South Island is along the West Coast with 735mm predicted.
However, the forecaster said there was more uncertainty of the rain levels for the rest of the country.
He predicts the bottom half of the North Island, and the top and western and southern parts of the South Island could see above or normal levels of rain for this time of year.
David Williams is an Auckland-based multimedia journalist who joined the Herald in 2023. He covers breaking news and general topics.
