Sunday was so close to being a whiteout day for Christchurch but the temperature fell short by about just 1 degree Celsius for that happening. It shows what a big difference 1C can sometimes have on the weather (ie, -1 degree difference could’ve turned yesterday’s heavy rain into heavy snow at sea level, and in the tropics when a cyclone passes over sea water +1 degree warmer the storm can explode in size and power).

Christchurch and Wellington are often borderline cities for snow and New Zealand’s temperate ocean waters that surround us help melt snow flurries that may be falling near the coast.

Today actually has a higher chance of snow flurries in Christchurch and Wellington than Sunday did because the main pool of cold air is now over New Zealand driving in a ‘train’ of showers (one after the other in a line) right into Banks Peninsula, Christchurch and then up to Wellington – these showers are ‘wintry’ ones that contain hail, sleet, snow and some rain too. However unlike Sunday the precipitation (a good word as it covers both rain and snow) is not as widespread or set in – it’s now more showery.

Graupel/snow pellets are also expected in Christchurch today – and may also impact Wellington.

WeatherWatch.co.nz / RuralWeather.co.nz