Radio New Zealand
Wellington, Friday, May 27, 2016
Torrential rain and tropical cyclone-strength winds are expected for much of the country tonight and into the weekend as a severe storm strengthens across the Tasman Sea.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) says steady rain will spread over the middle of the country by this evening.
That rain will turn to torrential downpours sweeping across the top of the northern Tasman, Nelson and parts of northern Marlborough tonight.
In the North Island, rain will be heaviest in Taranaki, Manawatu-Whanganui and Wellington, with more than 100 mm overnight in places, possibly causing surface flooding and slips.
Early tomorrow morning squally rain and wind is forecast to pass through the north of the South Island with southern and western parts of the North Island lit up by frequent lightning.
Wind gusts may be higher than 130 km/h in places – a level typical of category two tropical cyclones. The worst of the wind will pass through Wellington between 3 am and 6 am.
Stormy weather in Auckland
The squall line of heavy rain and thunderstorms is forecast to move through Auckland tomorrow morning, with winds gusting to at least 100 km/h. But by midday, skies will clear in Auckland, heralding a warm but windy afternoon.
Tomorrow night heavy rain and possibly damaging winds will hit the west of the North Island with rain likely to exceed 100 mm overnight, leading to surface flooding and slips.
Mid-Canterbury, including Christchurch, will also have heavy rain early tomorrow with strong wind gusts moving inland during the afternoon.
Tomorrow night yet another round of heavy rain and strong, possibly damaging winds could hit the west of the North Island.
Sunday will continue to be unsettled, with gusty showers across the North Island and isolated showers and chilly temperatures in the South Island.
On Monday much of the country will continue to have windy, chilly weather with showers.
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