MetService reported that an orange warning for gale force winds was issued for Wellington, Wairarapa, southern Tararua District, Marlborough Sounds, and the Kaikōura coast and ranges. The warning was in effect from 10 p.m. on Saturday until noon on Sunday.
“Severe gale northwesterlies, gusting [to] 120kph in exposed places” are what residents in those areas should anticipate. On Sunday morning, though, the winds in Wellington might gust even higher—they might reach 130 kph.
Trees, powerlines, and unsecured buildings could sustain damage from strong gales. The weather service issued a warning that driving could be hazardous, particularly for motorcycles and high-sided vehicles.
Up until 6 a.m. on Sunday, an orange wind warning was in effect for Canterbury’s high country, where strong northwesterly gusts were also predicted to occur “with damaging gusts of 130 kph in exposed places.”
A yellow severe wind watch was in place for Christchurch and the Canterbury plains and North Otago, where the winds could approach severe gales in exposed places, especially in the Banks Peninsula area, until the early hours of Sunday.
And in South Otago, Southland, Stewart Island and Fiordland, severe northwesterlies were expected, gusting to 120kph in exposed places from 8pm until late on Saturday.
From Saturday evening until early Sunday morning, there was a forecast of heavy rain for Westland, Fiordland, the Canterbury High Country, and the headwaters of Otago lakes and rivers.
The greatest amount of rain predicted for Westland during that period, from the glaciers southward and around the ranges, was up to 160 mm by 8:30 p.m. on Saturday; however, the coast north of the glaciers might receive as much as 100 mm.
“Streams and rivers may rise quickly after heavy rain. Driving conditions could be dangerous, and surface flooding and slips are also possible, according to MetService.
