Torrential rain is approaching northern New Zealand and Auckland. Image / MetService

Wild weather on the way: More than 40 alerts nationwide as torrential rain on the way

Author: NZ Herald,
Publish Date: Mon, 11 Jul 2022, 12:45pm

The country is in for some wild weather with more than 40 warnings and watches issued nationwide.

From the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South there are forecast gale-force winds, torrential rain and snow.

The harsh weather is the result of a deep low moving across New Zealand, bringing with it the associated fronts which cause the conditions.

MetService is warning people the weather will be "a significant event".

"People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts as parts of these watches will likely be upgraded to orange warnings, or more areas added."

🟧 Severe Weather Incoming 🟨

The low pressure system passing over the next 48 hours is moving fast but it packs a punch!

Gale winds + heavy rain on top of saturated regions could bring about impacts quickly.

Tree fall, power outages, surface flooding and slips are possible. pic.twitter.com/Pow1Z5hew9
— MetService (@MetService) July 10, 2022

Between Coromandel and Bay of Plenty people can expect winds approaching gale force and up to 110mm of rain with rates of 15mm per hour at times.

Auckland is forecast to experience gale-force winds from late this evening until tomorrow morning.

It's going to be a wet start to the week for most as a deep low and associated fronts move over the country. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected later today with many Severe Weather Warnings and Watches in force.

Check out your local forecast athttps://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz pic.twitter.com/7D4SPlcEG8
— MetService (@MetService) July 10, 2022

Gisborne to Hawke's Bay can expect similar conditions, with heavy rain and at the bottom of the North Island. Wellington is set to receive gale-force winds until Wednesday morning – with a chance of extension.

The Tararua Ranges will be drenched by heavy rain, and across Cook Strait, Nelson and Marlborough districts will be battered by rain and wind.

Canterbury HIgh Country is under a heavy snow and rain watch, with heavy rain expected to turn to snow above 400 metres.

Central Otago and the Lakes district can expect similar conditions

Several roads have heavy snow watches in place between Tuesday and Wednesday.
These are : Lindis Pass, the Crown Ranges, Arthur's Pass, Porter's Pass, and the Dunedin and Waitati Highway.

Low pressure will direct moisture into NZ early next week, resulting in heavy rain for many areas.

The heaviest rain will occur on Tuesday. The first image shows the chance of rainfall >50 mm, and the second image >100 mm. The highest rain amounts are likely in BoP and upper SI. pic.twitter.com/xGT8v7jp7q
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 10, 2022

The wintry blast is being attributed to an "atmospheric river" snaking across the country. These long, thin filaments of atmospheric moisture are capable of carrying double the average flow of the Amazon River – or 200 times that of our largest river, the Clutha/Mata Au.

Around 40 atmospheric rivers make landfall here every year, with four or five classified as strong and usually hitting around summer.

💧 An atmospheric river is forecast to impact New Zealand on Monday-Tuesday with heavy rain likely, especially in the northern+western North Island & northern+eastern South Island.

The purple colours (🟣) indicate high moisture values - ones we'd associate with a flooding risk. pic.twitter.com/oyHjKD376C
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 8, 2022

The coming system could bring 100mm to 120mm of rainfall between 8pm Monday and 3pm Tuesday, with peak rates of 15mm to 25mm an hour.