Easter weather: Gale-force winds and squally showers ahead

Hot cross buns will likely be enjoyed tucked up next to fire and hot cuppa as Easter Weekend looks to bring gale-force winds and "squally showers".

WeatherWatch forecaster Philip Duncan warned windy, colder and wetter weather was expected for a number of days starting from Wednesday and lasting over Easter Weekend.

"We're still trying to work out the precise set-up for Easter Weekend but it looks windier and much more unsettled than this weekend has been and this forecast poses a problem for the new normal in New Zealand – having to line up outside for food and drink."

Single-digit daytime highs were likely for some of the southern regions while gales could, off and on, impact as far north as Auckland from Thursday to Easter Monday.

Duncan said a very large pool of low pressure was edging closer to New Zealand from the Southern Ocean.

"Southern Ocean storms are different to tropical cyclones, they cover a much greater distance and that spreads the energy much further, meaning many regions can have unsettled weather but it may not be severe enough to cause serious issues".

He said severe weather looks patchy but possible in both islands for a time.

Easter Weekend: Gales in exposed places, squally showers & people queuing outside for groceries https://t.co/V1bQyMcw9r via @weatherwatchnz

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) April 4, 2020

It's too early to work out severe weather risks for New Zealand but some places - including majority of the South Island, Cook Strait and Auckland - could be in for severe gales, Duncan said.

He said by Monday and Tuesday we would be able to get much clearer picture of the severe weather warnings.

Heavy snow was looking likely in the South Island ranges and mountains for a time and heavy rain was forecast for the West Coast.

"Squally showers are likely along the western coastline of both islands."

But it's not all bad.

WeatherWatch forecasters say the angle of the winds and the fact that the centre of this storm should be well south of New Zealand, halfway between Antarctica and Southland, means not all have bad weather.

"The mountains and ranges will make for mainly dry and sunny skies in eastern areas of both islands, but windy at times."

A WeatherWatch forecaster said usually a big low at Easter would ruin outdoor events, impact travel plans and mean extra warnings for campers and trampers.

"However, with New Zealand at Covid-19 alert level 4 many of us are at home and a bit of windy, wet weather for a few days may not be too problematic."