Cool temperatures continue to chill country

There is still a bit of the wet stuff around for the next couple of days, but the trend is for fine weather to dominate by the end of the week. Photo / Jason Oxenham

Cool temperatures continue to chill the country as the tail end of the current low pressure system continues to spread across the country, forecasters say.

After heavy rain pounded much of the country yesterday, a few heavy showers remain, caught up in the fast moving winds, WeatherWatch.co.nz head analyst Philip Duncan said.

"As the low continues to deepen and track east, the south west flow is likely to strengthen...before easing again later [tomorrow] and Friday."

Temperatures were also dropping and tonight and tomorrow morning would be a colder night for many parts of the country, he said.

"Windy weather remains on Thursday but the peak of the winds will have passed for many and air pressure along the western side of New Zealand will grow as a high moves in from the Tasman Sea towards Friday and the weekend," Mr Duncan said.

The strong south to south west winds would also push east of the country over the next 48 hours.

The Chatham Islands would be exposed to stormy conditions with gales, thunderstorms and big seas developing, he said.

"The weekend looks settled for 95 per cent of New Zealand with just a few showers around the far edges, like Fiordland."

Conditions for the start of the duck shooting season will be settled - but may well have clear skies. Fog and low cloud is a little more likely on Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, the capital city has been mopping up today after torrential rain flooded streets and businesses yesterday.

The Accident and Urgent Medical Centre reopened its doors this morning after flooding and fresh planting at the new Pukeahu National War Memorial Park was been damaged.

The Fire Service was called to 30 flooding incidents in just two hours yesterday morning, mostly in central Wellington, a spokeswoman said.

The flooding also caused problems on roads near the Basin Reserve.

MetService earlier said the low pressure that had moved over the country caused heavy rain and strong winds.

"All the main centres have seen a decent dumping of rain with parts of Wellington receiving over 50mm since midnight Sunday. Northerly wind gusts also reached over 100 km/h around Auckland's harbours on Monday night," meteorologist Stephen Glassey said.

But MetService said showers should disappear from most of the country later this week as a high pressure system moved in from the Tasman Sea.