Wild weather to hit South Island midweek while tropical air mass sees North stay warm and humid

Hot, humid nights are in store for the North Island as a fresh deluge hits parts of the south in coming days.

The sunny weather is set to be short-lived with wild conditions forecast for the West Coast on Wednesday and Thursday.

While MetService was expecting warm and calm conditions for much of the country today and Tuesday, a low pressure system was set to reach the South Island tomorrow evening.

Starting in warmer waters off Australia’s east coast, it would bring rain to Aotearoa on Wednesday and Thursday, a MetService spokesperson told the Herald.

A heavy rain watch has been placed on Westland District ranges from 4am Wednesday, while MetService has warned severe gales and heavy rain could stretch the length of the West Coast.

Despite the rain and winds, warm temperatures are likely to stick around across the country.

“We’re also going to be looking at another bout of very warm and humid temperatures,” a MetService spokesperson said.

“It has managed to grab quite a tropical air mass and it is hauling that across the sea to put it on top of New Zealand.

Wet weather is predicted for much of the South Island on Wednesday.

“So looking to Auckland, for example, they’re looking to go back into those overnight temperatures of like 18C or 19C and that’s a very similar story across much of the North Island.”

Daytime temperatures are also likely to be humid and hot, with maximums in the mid to low 20s across the North Island.

MetService has forecast some showers for the North Island on Wednesday, but it won’t be hit as hard as the South Island and there should be sunny spells in between.

Christchurch is set to reach almost 30C on Wednesday, up from a maximum of 14C today because of dry and hot winds coming over the Southern Alps.

Most of the country will see fairly settled weather on Monday and Tuesday, although the east of both islands will be showery and chilly on Monday.

However, conditions turn more active from Wednesday, with heavy rain in the West Coast and gusty winds in the South Island. pic.twitter.com/BpwV3PmtuN

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“The main story for [Canterbury] is going to be those hot, dry winds and plenty of high cloud covering them as well, adding a nice little blanket on top of the warm conditions that they’re already going to be experiencing.”