Bushfire smoke expected to cross New Zealand

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NIWA scientists expect smoke from the bushfires in New South Wales to drift over New Zealand in the next few days.

The devastating bushfires, mainly located across the Blue Mountains near Sydney, have been burning for eight days.

NIWA atmosphere scientist Tony Bromley said today the weather situation in the Tasman is expected to remain complex over the next week.

Some smoke from the bushfires was being injected into airstreams not expected to pass over New Zealand.

"However, on occasions the wind pattern will bring the smoke this way. Some will be washed out of the atmosphere by rain, but the sheer size of the smoke plumes will ensure a lot will make it to New Zealand and beyond," Mr Bromley said.

Evidence of the smoke is most likely to be visible from Auckland north from tomorrow evening. It should remain visible until about Saturday night.

From midday Saturday it is likely to affect central New Zealand, for between 26 and 48 hours.

"The South Island is unlikely to see smoke until early next Tuesday."

Mr Bromley said the forecasts are reliant on predicted weather patterns remaining true to the forecast, and the fires still burning intensely.

"The predicted winds across the Tasman over the next few days are forecast to be strong, and it may take the smoke as little as 15-18 hours at times to cross from New South Wales," he said.

The smoke may make sunsets and sunrises more intense depending on cloud cover, but even during the day the smoke plume should be clearly visible.

Contact

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Principal Technician - Atmosphere
Smoke from the bushfires in New South Wales is expected to be visible in parts of New Zealand in the next couple of days.

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