Severe gales expected across BOP and Coromandel

A lightning strike out toward Whale Island off Whakatane during a squall early Sunday morning. Photo: Rod Topperwein.

A severe weather watch has been issued by MetSerivce for parts of New Zealand, which includes heavy rain, severe gales, severe thunderstorms and heavy snow .

The severe weather watch has been updated on Sunday afternoon to include a watch for severe gales for Waitomo, Waikato, Auckland, Northland, Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua and Bay of Plenty.

"A front preceded by a very strong northwesterly flow is expected to sweep east across these areas late this evening and overnight," says a MetService spokesperson.

"Watches for severe thunderstorms with damaging wind gusts of more than 110 km per hour and the possibility of localised tornadoes has also been issued for parts of this area. [There are] no other significant changes from the watches and warnings issued this morning."

A squall came through the Bay of Plenty on Sunday morning, captured on video by Rod Topperwein.

A strong unsettled west to northwest flow lies over New Zealand, with several embedded troughs and frontal features bringing heavy rain, strong winds and snow to parts of the country. MetService say the flow should change to strong southwesterly from the south during Monday.

Severe weather warnings and watches remain in force for many areas.

In addition, severe thunderstorms are possible for some areas. People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case any changes are made.

Heavy rain watch

Area: Bay of Plenty east of Whakatane
Valid: 8 hours from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Sunday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain with thunderstorms at times. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria. Note, another period of heavy rain is likely during Monday morning.

Area: North Taranaki and Taihape, the west of Taupo, Taumarunui and Waitomo
Valid: 21 hours from 9:00 am Sunday to 6:00 am Monday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain with thunderstorms at times. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.

Area: Horowhenua to Wellington north of Johnsonville
Valid: 36 hours from 9:00 am Sunday to 9:00 pm Monday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain with thunderstorms at times. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.

Area: Westland from Otira northwards and Buller
Valid: 32 hours from 9:00 am Sunday to 5:00 pm Monday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain with thunderstorms. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria, mainly about the ranges. Freezing level about 1700 metres at first, lowering to about 1300 metres this evening.

Area: The headwaters of Canterbury lakes and rivers south of Arthurs Pass.
Valid: 27 hours from 9:00 am Sunday to 12:00 pm Monday
Forecast: Periods of heavy rain with thunderstorms at times. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria within 20 km east of the main divide. Freezing level lowering to about 1200 metres this afternoon. Much of this precipitation is likely to fall as snow above 1000 metres.

Heavy snow watch

Area: The Queenstown Lakes District and the Canterbury High Country
west of Otematata and about and south of Mount Cook Village
Valid: 6 hours from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm Sunday
Forecast: Snow may lower to 400 metres for a time. Heavy snow is possible above 700 metres, and amounts may approach warning criteria.

Strong wind watch

Area: Northland to Waitomo. Also Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty and Rotorua.
Valid: 8 hours from 10:00 pm Sunday to 6:00 am Monday
Forecast: Northwest winds may approach severe gale at times. Note that this area may be affected by severe thunderstorms bringing damaging wind gusts of more than 110 km/h and localised tornadoes during this time. Watches for severe thunderstorms have been issued.

Area: Taranaki to Kapiti, Taihape, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa north of about Featherston
Valid: 29 hours from 6:00 pm Sunday to 11:00 pm Monday
Forecast: Northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places at times.

Area: Canterbury Plains including Christchurch and Banks Peninsula, and coastal parts of Otago
Valid: 29 hours from 9:00 am Sunday to 2:00 pm Monday
Forecast: North to northwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.

Area: Coastal Otago
Valid: 7 hours from 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm Monday
Forecast: Southwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.

Area: Southern Fiordland and coastal Southland including Stewart Island
Valid: 4 hours from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm Monday
Forecast: Southwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places.

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