Some Kiwis may need to pack a raincoat before heading to ANZAC Day services on Thursday, with “wet and windy” conditions expected for some regions.
According to MetService, the final week of the school holidays is expected to start with “plenty of dry and fine weather” across the country but some parts will see wind and rain in the coming days.
A “cool” southwest flow covers the country today, spreading showers over Auckland, “but there’s still plenty of sunshine to be had elsewhere.”
This afternoon, a “burst of stronger southerly winds and showers” will spread northwards over Marlborough, Wellington, and the eastern North Island.
Overnight, winds are forecast to ease after the showers pass over Tairāwhiti — which will see temperatures drop “as a ridge of high pressure settles in”.
“Overnight temperatures are forecast to be lower than average for this time of year, and some of the South Island could be waking up to frost,” MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon said.
Clear skies are expected to “dominate” through Tuesday and Wednesday, but a strengthening northwesterly flow will drive cloud and showers over the South Island’s West Coast.
On Wednesday night, showers will likely turn to heavy rain over Fiordland as a front approaches from the west. This front will spread up the West Coast on ANZAC Day.
Wotherspoon said that while the weather looks dry for Dawn Services in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland, “strengthening north westerlies across the middle of the country means it will be a windy one for the capital.
“It’ll be worth taking a raincoat for the early morning services on the West Coast.”