The holiday run of fine weather looks set to be ended as gales, rain and humidity return to New Zealand next week.
A powerful high-pressure system has been protecting the country over Christmas and New Year. However as this departs, a deep low-pressure zone in the sub-tropics comes in behind it. WeatherWatch warns this will create a 'squash zone' of windy weather with the worst coming mid-to-late next week.
Head forecaster Philip Duncan said this will cover the upper North Island from about Coromandel Peninsula northwards, with winds of 30 to 65km/h around some eastern beaches and coastal areas from Sunday to Friday.
There may be some localised areas, mostly from the very north of Auckland to Cape Reinga, where winds may reach over 80km/h - which is gale force and approaching severe gale.
Windier east to northeast winds may even brush down the eastern side of Canterbury, he added.
"This isn't technically a storm for New Zealand, but for those in tents and awnings the windy weather can be a bit of an issue and we can't rule out pockets of severe weather here and there," Duncan said.
"Advanced notice gives people plenty of time to get some extra pegs, sort where to put up tents/awnings and to where to park vehicles in front of tents."
Tropical moisture and humidity is also forecast to return along with the rain. WeatherWatch reports as much as 70 to 100mm of rain may fall in northern and western areas - mostly later next week and next weekend.
"The offshore depression will also generate dangerous rips and large waves - even if the weather on land is calm and dry. This may become more of an issue for upper North Island beaches mid next week," Duncan said.
"Hopefully for many people this will be a brief annoyance rather than a major headache, but it's good to be in the know of what is creating our weather while so many of us are outside amongst it day in and day out".
MetService's severe weather outlook
For Northland, there is moderate confidence that rainfall amounts and the wind strength will reach warning criteria on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
For Auckland, Great Barrier Island and Coromandel Peninsula, there is moderate confidence rainfall amounts will reach warning criteria on Thursday and Friday.
For Auckland, Great Barrier Island and eastern Waikato, there is moderate confidence of severe east to northeast gales in exposed places on Thursday and Friday.
For Bay of Plenty, there is moderate confidence that a rainfall warning will be needed on Friday.
For northwest Tasman, there is low confidence of heavy rain on Thursday but this increases to moderate on Friday.
For Buller and Westland from Otira northwards, there is low confidence of warnable amounts of rain on Friday, mainly about the ranges.
For Westland south of Otira and Fiordland, there is low confidence rainfall amounts will reach warning criteria on Thursday and Friday, mainly about the ranges.
