KEY POINTS:
Easter promises to bring a mixed bag of weather for holidaymakers, forecasters said today.
Good Friday and Saturday will be damp for many, followed by clearing conditions on Sunday and Monday, according to MetService forecaster Bob McDavitt.
A trough is likely to bring heavy downpours to central and northern parts of the North Island tomorrow, followed by a cold front with some rain and a southerly wind change working its way up the South Island on Good Friday.
The front is likely to become slow moving on Saturday, bringing outbreaks of rain to northern and central areas.
"So there's some wet weather and damp roads around for starters," Mr McDavitt said.
"The outlook at this stage for Easter Sunday and Monday is for clearing weather as southerly winds relax."
Looking at the longer term picture, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) says normal rainfall is expected over most of the country in the next three months.
In its April-June climate outlook, Niwa's national climate centre said air temperatures were expected to be average in the North Island and average or below average in the South Island, while the sea surface temperature was expected to be normal.
Niwa's regional predictions for the next three months:
Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty:
Average temperatures likely. Normal rainfall and streamflows likely. Normal or above normal soil moisture levels likely.
Central North Island, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu and Wellington:
Average temperatures likely. Normal rainfall, soil moisture, and stream flows likely.
Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa:
Average temperatures likely, with normal rainfall, soil moisture and stream flows expected.
Nelson, Marlborough, Buller:
Average or below average temperatures likely. Normal rainfall, soil moisture, and stream flows likely.
West Coast, Alps and Foothills, Inland Otago, Southland:
Average or below average temperatures likely. Normal rainfall, soil moisture, and streamflows expected.
Coastal Canterbury, East Otago:
Average temperatures likely. Normal or below normal rainfall likely, with below normal soil moisture and streamflows.
- NZPA
