Awarua Synergy Weather Watch – Strong Winds to Sever Gales

An active front is forecast to move onto the lower South Island from the west this evening, preceded by a strong, moist northwesterly flow and followed by a cooler west to southwest flow on Friday as it tracks northwards. The front delivers a period of heavy northwesterly rain to Fiordland and Westland south of Otira today, with significant spillover into the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers. A Heavy Rain Warning is in force for these areas.

In addition, strong northwesterlies are expected ahead of the front, with severe gales possible in exposed areas in the east, from Wairarapa to Southland from this evening until around midday Friday. The strongest winds are expected about the Canterbury High Country and a Strong Wind Warning is in force for this area.

Strong Wind Watch

Area: Otago and Southland including Stewart Island
Valid: 18 hours from 5:00pm Thursday to 11:00am Friday
Forecast: From this evening until around dawn Friday, northwesterlies may reach severe gale in exposed places at times.

This Watch is for the possibility of significant heavy rain spilling over into the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers from this evening until the early hours of Friday morning. This Watch also covers the possibility of northwesterlies reaching severe gale in exposed parts of Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough, Southland, Otago and the Canterbury Plains including Christchurch and Banks Peninsula from this evening until around midday Friday.

Heavy Rain Watch

Area: The headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers
Valid: 9 hours from 6:00pm Thursday to 3:00am Friday
Forecast: Rain with heavy falls developing this evening, then easing in the early hours of Friday morning. During this time, rainfall accumulations may approach warning criteria.

People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case parts of this Watch are upgraded to a full Warning, or other areas are added.

Issued by MetService at 9:38am Thursday 15-Mar-2018