Queen's Birthday weekend weather: Wild weather set to hit New Zealand
- Publish Date
- Friday, 31 May 2019, 10:31AM
Auckland is being hit by heavy rains and surface flooding as the Queen's Birthday wintry weekend blast begins to hit.
Auckland was struck by several rounds of heavy rain, including a "torrential downpour" in the west, causing woe for motorists heading to work.
MetService meteorologist Hannah Moes said 8mm had so far fallen in the Auckland region but that "there is still plenty of rain in the forecast".
Last night a MetService severe thunderstorm watch was in place from Hamilton to Cape Reinga, which threatened to affect any motorists attempting to make an early long-weekend getaway.
The watch had now been lifted after the front moved in overnight with embedded thunderstorms that threatened to bring severe rain, hail and squally winds, the forecaster said.
The front was now making its way east across Northland towards the Coromandel.
The wild weather has left Auckland looking at a high of 18C today before the winter freeze hits, sending temperatures to 14C and 13C on Saturday and Sunday.
Monday is tipped to be the pick of the long weekend weather with a break in the rain and high of 16C.
However, fellow forecaster WeatherWatch is now tipping two more cold blasts to hit Auckland and the country next week, with both having the potential to bring wild winds capable of bringing down power lines.
The first would hit briefly on Wednesday before a second storm followed on Friday.
"WeatherWatch has already advised utilities in Auckland of possible power outages one week from now as this blast of windy weather comes in," the forecaster said.
The NZ Transport Agency is also urging motorists to be careful across the country today as roads turn potentially hazardous with heavy long weekend traffic and changeable weather.
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