Decent weather to open festival but rain likely for New Year's Eve
By James Pocock
Chief Reporter, Gisborne Herald·Gisborne Herald·
26 Dec, 2024 02:31 AM3 mins to read
A flooding sign was put up at the Waikanae Beach end of Grey St early on Thursday afternoon, prompted by surface road flooding either side of the Awapuni Rd / State Highway 35 / Grey St roundabout in Gisborne.
Heavy rain in Tairāwhiti earlier in the week may make for a muddy start to Rhythm and Vines, but it is not expected to stick around for the start of the event.
The only possible dampener will be a forecast of rain developing right at the end of the event, just in time for the turning of the year.
Fine weather only barely held out for Christmas before the skies opened on Boxing Day.
The deluge during the period that MetService issued an orange heavy rain warning, from 10am Thursday until 4am Friday, is set to precede some gusty conditions with a yellow strong wind watch in place.
The wind watch is from 8am Friday until 6am Saturday and covers coastal areas of Gisborne/Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay.
With the notice, MetService said southwest winds may approach severe gale in exposed places and there was a moderate chance of the watch upgrading to a warning.
Several Gisborne District Council rain gauge sites north of Gisborne recorded 100mm of rain over 24 hours.
As of 2pm, the Pouawa Fire gauge in between Makorori and Whangara had 118mm of rain in the previous 24 hours. That was followed by 113mm at Te Puia, 108mm at Mangaheia in Willowbank, and 106.5 at the Panikau Rd to Reed Rd gauge.
Signs warning of surface flooding were placed on certain streets in urban Gisborne, including at the end of Grey St.
Looking ahead to the forecast for Rhythm and Vines, starting Sunday and wrapping up at the turn of the new year, MetService meteorologist Gerard Bellam said there would be a couple of good days to look forward to but the third could see some rain.
“There is some occasional rain with some fresh southerlies on Saturday, we’re expecting a high of about 20,” Bellam said.
“Looking at Sunday, it is clearing up. It is just sunny spells, there will be some areas of cloud around and just a chance of a shower until evening and those southerly winds easing.”
The temperature high on Sunday was expected to be 22C, while overnight campers will have a low of 13C.
Bellan said Monday would see another southwesterly change come through with a few showers developing, but temperatures would stay relatively high at a 25C max and a minimum of 13C again overnight.
Unfortunately, rain is expected to develop on Tuesday for New Year’s Eve and the day’s high will likely drop to 20C while the minimum once again stays at 13C, according to Bellam.
