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A warm air mass from Australia will mean unseasonably higher temperatures across New Zealand.
Thunderstorms, heavy rain and severe wind gusts are expected to lash the country during 72 hours of wild weather that will see out the last days of winter.
Much of the South Island and parts of the lower North Island are under strong wind and heavy rain watches for comingdays with the first alert taking effect later this afternoon.
MetService is warning much of the country should expect damaging winds and rain but the South Island and lower parts of the North Island would bear the brunt of the incoming wild weather.
🟡Latest Severe Weather Info🟡
Watches have been issued ahead of the next approaching weather system
Wind gusts could reach severe gale in some places, while elevated areas could be in for periods of heavier rainfall💨🌧️
“It will be very easy to kind of get lost and confused with all the different weather systems in the next few days.”
She said most areas of the country should expect some wind and rainfall but the South Island and lower parts of the North Island would see the worst of it.
MetService is warning severe gales may damage trees, powerlines and unsecured structures in Wairarapa, Wellington and the Marlborough Sounds.
These areas will be under a strong wind watch from 4am Thursday for 12 hours.
It comes after widespread surface flooding hit the Wellington region on Monday, which closed multiple roads and caused rivers and streams to swell.
Makgabutlane urged residents to stay vigilant as rainfall and strong winds on the already sodden ground could make for more flooding.
Flooding in Otaihanga Domain, Paraparaumu, on Monday. Photo / David Haxton.
Further south, the Canterbury High Country, Fiordland, Southland northwest of Riversdale, Queenstown Lakes District and Central Otago will also be under a strong wind watch from 4pm.
The headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers south of Arthur’s Pass will be under a heavy rain watch for 20 hours.
MetService is warning thunderstorms will be embedded in the heavy rain and rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.
Odds for thunderstorms (lightning) over the coming days.
