Gale force winds to hit Canty

Christchurch sunniest, coolest in Spring

Gale force winds are expected to batter Canterbury and Otago ahead of heavy rain tomorrow.

The MetService says a front is expected to move slowly over the southern and central South Island during Wednesday.

Heavy rain warnings are in place for Fiordland and Westland.

Significant amounts of rain are expected to spill across the Alps into the Otago and Canterbury headwaters.

Northwest winds are likely to reach gale force in exposed inland parts of Otago and Canterbury on Wednesday ahead of the front.

These gales may become severe.

SPRING REPORT

Meanwhile, Spring was very dry for much of the South Island, Auckland, Coromandel, and eastern parts of Northland, according to Niwa's latest climate summary. 

In its review of the past three months, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research said rainfall was at record lows or near-record lows in these parts.

In contrast, conditions were very wet in southern Hawke's Bay, the Tararua district, and Wanganui which had 120 percent of its normal rainfall. Elsewhere, spring rainfall was near normal. 

The South Island came out on top again with sunshine.

Niwa said spring was characterised by stronger than normal southwest winds over New Zealand, consistent with El Nino conditions.

Of the six main centres, Tauranga was the warmest, Wellington the wettest, Dunedin the driest and Christchurch the sunniest and coolest.