Lashing Rain in Omapere

Issued by MetService at 08:53am 29-Jul-2007

HEAVY RAIN FOR PARTS OF NORTHERN NEW ZEALAND TODAY, ALSO FOR SOUTH
CANTERBURY AND EASTERN OTAGO TOMORROW

A deep low lies to the west of the New Zealand, with an associated front
currently over Northland, expected to move southeast to cross the remainder of
the North Island by Monday morning. A strong moist northeast flow ahead of this
front is expected to bring a period of heavy rain to northern New Zealand. The
rain has eased over the Far North, but heavy falls are expected to continue over
southern parts of Northland and also Auckland until early afternoon. Heavy rain
is also expected over Coromandel Peninsula and western Bay of Plenty through to
this evening and for eastern Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne from later this
afternoon through to Monday morning.

Further rainfalls of 25 to 50mm for southern parts of Northland and Auckland are
not excessive, but are likely to include some brief thundery downpours of 15 to
25mm per hour.

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No sense in going out too early this morning. The rain was really heavy during the night and a second band has just passed on to the south. I'm happily sitting in the Capthorne Hotel dining room, with some cool jazz on their sound system, a roaring fire and a fast internet connection. But, there is now blue skies to the north and time to ride. I'm going to try for Kaitaia today, about 100 km along some windy, but not too hilly roads.