Central Otago is in for an up and down forecast this weekend, with wind, rain and sunshine all featuring. 

Today will be mostly fine with morning frosts and westerly winds, while Saturday will feature showers in the morning with a southwest change, then clearing in the afternoon as winds turn northwesterly. 

MetService Meteorologist Tui McInnes says the district will encounter wind, rain and sunshine this weekend as two fronts pass over the South Island. 

“In essence, two frontal systems move over the area tonight and again Saturday. 

“With these we have some wet periods (likely to be showery and less dominant given the rain is coming from the west and therefore blocked by the alps) as well as windy periods too. 

“The front that moved through Thursday night is the more prominent of the two with strong northwesterlies (and a warning for severe gale in force). 

“The strongest winds will, of course, impact exposed locations most with gusts there of possibly 120km/h.” 

Sunshine, wind and rain will all feature as two fronts move across the district. Image: MetService. 

On Sunday the weather is forecast to be fine with morning frosts and northwesterlies. 

“As we go into the next week, we get yet another front with more rain on the way. 

“Again, the rain is mainly coming from the west, so Central Otago will tend to be more showery.”

Tui explains either side of the dominant fronts will include mostly fine weather. 

“Outside of these frontal induced weather periods, the weather will be fine for most in the region,” Tui says. 

“And it’s worth noting that the wet/wind is more of the exception to the rule, with the more settled weather looking likely to dominate the days ahead.”

On Monday, the workweek looks set to start with fine weather, then rain developing in the afternoon with a northerly wind.

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