We were treated to an absolutely spectacular sunrise in the Waitaki this morning!

Social media was running hot with some beautiful images of it taken from all around the district. 

In New Zealand, because weather systems often move from west to east, the ‘red sky in the morning, shepherds warning’ saying often holds true. A red sky sunrise indicates that an area of high pressure and associated fine weather containing trapped dust and other particles, has moved out to the east. 

At sunrise and sunset, light must travel further through the atmosphere to reach us, and as it does it is scattered, especially when there is dust, smoke and other particles present. This scattering affects blue light the most, so more of the red and yellow parts of the spectrum remain visible.

At sunset, a red sky means that the worst of the weather has passed, with higher pressure and improving weather conditions approaching us from the west, hence ‘red sky at night, shepherds delight’.

So after a lovely sunny week with mild temperatures on the coast, it's not looking that great for later today with high cloud building, and some rain this evening. A northwesterly will keep temperatures mild though, with a high of 17 degrees, dropping to 8 tonight.

There is also a strong wind watch for North Otago, Dunedin, and Clutha through to 9pm tonight with northwest winds possibly approaching severe gale in exposed places. Saturday sees conditions improve again with high cloud breaking up later in the day and light winds, and Sunday’s forecast is similar with northerly winds and mild temperatures.

Metservice forecast graphic: Oamaru

Up the Waitaki valley, Omarama and surrounding areas in the Mackenzie basin will be a bit worse for wear with both a heavy rain and a strong wind warning through to Saturday morning.

 Metservice weather warning.

Widespread rain will set in by Friday evening, with strong to severe gale northwesterlies. Rain turns to heavy scattered falls on Saturday morning, with gale northwesterlies easing. Sunday will be mostly cloudy with isolated showers, while northerly winds become strong during the day. 

Metservice forecast graphic: Omarama

For updated forecasts and the latest real time conditions for local areas, click on the towns below.

Oamaru

Palmerston

Otematata

Lake Ohau Alpine Village