Tuesday, 25 July 2017

More extreme weather expected in New Zealand Thursday

Flood fears as new front to bring downpours, snow down to 400m


25 July, 2017


People are being warned to prepare for more flooding with more heavy rain and snow set to hit the country.

The country, particularly eastern areas of the South Island including Christchurch, was recovering after being battered by a freezing storm that caused widespread flooding late last week.

MetService was expecting a cold southerly change, bringing snow down to about 400 metres in Southland, Otago and Canterbury, possibly lower in the deep south from Thursday. Over the central high country of the North Island it could get down to 700m.
A local state of emergency remained in place in Christchurch as the flood clean up continued. Several city roads remain ...
JOHN KIRK-ANDERSON/STUFF

A local state of emergency remained in place in Christchurch as the flood clean up continued. Several city roads remain closed, while others have restricted access during high tide.
The snow would be accompanied by rain for most southern centres, with heavy falls about the ranges, while the North Island would see downpours that could become heavy in central and southern areas.

Authorities warn the incoming heavy rain could bring more flooding to saturated Canterbury.
Snow at Tekapo on Saturday.
GEORGE EMPSON
Snow at Tekapo on Saturday.

A local state of emergency remained in place in Christchurch as the flood clean up continued. Several city roads remain closed, while others have restricted access during high tide (about 6pm).
A Civil Defence update on Tuesday said forecast rain on Thursday could again cause problems.
"[This] may cause isolated flooding in some areas, particularly where grounds are already saturated," it said.
Bad weather subsides, allowing flood-stricken Canterbury and Otago to get on with the clean-up, including Tairei farmer ...
GEORGE HEARD/STUFF

Bad weather subsides, allowing flood-stricken Canterbury and Otago to get on with the clean-up, including Tairei farmer Ross Farquhar.
MetService meteorologist April Clark said residents in Canterbury and Otago could expect rain on Thursday, but not in the accumulations that flooded the region late last week.
"The rain is not looking quite as persistent and heavy as what they've had but obviously they're quite susceptible to any amount of rain at the moment," Clark said.
"Thursday is going to be the worst day for them, with some heavy falls possible particularly in Canterbury, but in terms of accumulation it's not going to be massive."
Taieri, Otago, was left under water after heavy rain caused the river to breach its banks.
SUPPLIED

Taieri, Otago, was left under water after heavy rain caused the river to breach its banks.
Clark said the rain looked to be "more brief" in Dunedin and "probably not too bad".
Despite the relatively smaller size of the incoming low, MetService would keep a close eye as it made its way towards New Zealand.
The cold change would follow an active front expected to move northward over the South Island on Thursday.

That atmospheric river that brought heavy rain to parts of the country late last week.

Clark said the rain looked to be "more brief" in Dunedin and "probably not too bad".


Despite the relatively smaller size of the incoming low, MetService would keep a close eye as it made its way towards New Zealand.


The cold change would follow an active front expected to move northward over the South Island on Thursday.


That atmospheric river that brought heavy rain to parts of the country late last week.

Rainfall totals in eastern areas of the South Island.



The front was forecast to cross and move away to the east of the North Island on Friday, followed by a period of strong cold southerlies.


Southerly gales could become severe around Wellington for a time on Friday.


Roads in the South Island could by icy on Friday night, as a ridge of high pressure expected to spread over the South Island from the Tasman Sea brought cold air, clear skies and light winds.

Rainfall totals in eastern areas of the South Island.

"However, it's not all doom and gloom, with the upcoming weekend looking generally frosty and fine, especially on Sunday," MetService said.


Westerlies on Tuesday and Wednesday were bringing a few showers to western and southern fringes, and sunny and relatively mild weather to the east. By 1pm Tuesday Gisborne, Napier and Masterton were already into the high teens.


Niwa Weather tweeted that one benefit of the July rains was near normal amounts of soil moisture for many spots and groundwater recharge across the eastern South Island.





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