Get ready for a wild ride, Aotearoa! New Zealand’s South Island is currently experiencing a dramatic clash of weather elements, bringing both intense downpours and scorching temperatures. If you’re in Fiordland or the southern Westland ranges, grab your umbrella – heavy rain and even thunderstorms are on the cards as a fast-moving front pushes up the western coastline.
But here’s the twist: while the west gets soaked, the east is absolutely sizzling! Northwesterly winds have been busy dragging warm air all the way from Southeast Queensland, Australia, across the Tasman Sea. This “heat highway” has seen places like Christchurch and Dunedin basking in incredible 28°C highs today. Thanks to a phenomenon called the ‘foehn effect’, where strong winds crossing mountains supercharge temperatures on the leeward side, the eastern regions are experiencing an extra boost of warmth.
These strong northwesterly winds aren’t just bringing heat; they’re also whipping up gale-force gusts across inland Southland, Otago, and Canterbury. While early summer often sees such wind patterns, the current combination of elements is certainly making for some memorable weather.
Thankfully, the worst of the severe weather is expected to ease by early tomorrow morning as the front moves across central New Zealand. However, don’t pack away your summer gear just yet! Warm and windy conditions are forecast to persist into the new week, with Canterbury and Marlborough likely to enjoy temperatures in the high twenties. So, whether you’re dodging raindrops or soaking up the sun, stay weather-aware as New Zealand continues its unpredictable dance with the elements!
