A strong wind watch has been issued for several regions in the South Island of New Zealand, with severe gales possible in exposed areas. MetService, the country’s weather forecasting service, has warned that northwesterly winds may approach severe gale force in parts of Fiordland, Stewart Island, inland Southland, and Otago, as well as the Canterbury High Country and the foothills of the Canterbury Plains. The strong wind watch is in place until 7pm on Sunday for some areas, and from 2pm on Sunday to 1am on Monday for others.
This warning comes just a week after severe gale force winds caused power outages and downed trees in the Canterbury region. Fortunately, no major damage was reported. The latest wind watch has a moderate chance of being upgraded to a warning for Canterbury. MetService is advising people in the affected areas to be prepared for strong winds and to take necessary precautions.
In addition to the strong winds, snow is also expected to fall in parts of the lower South Island on Monday. Road snowfall warnings have been issued for Lindis Pass, Crown Range Road, and Milford Road, with 4 to 8cm of snow expected to fall near the Milford Road summit. Lesser amounts of snow are expected at lower elevations, down to 700 metres. The snowfall is expected to start on Monday morning, and people are advised to check the latest weather forecasts and road conditions before traveling.
The strong winds and snow are part of a larger weather system that is moving through the South Island. MetService is providing regular updates on the weather conditions, and people are advised to stay informed and take necessary precautions to stay safe. The weather warnings are a reminder of the importance of being prepared for severe weather events, and of the need to stay up to date with the latest weather forecasts and warnings.