On Wednesday we have a building westerly airflow over New Zealand. A strong cold front moves over the lower South Island during the morning, reaching the upper North Island in the evening.

Mostly cloudy for the west of the North Island, showers at times especially afternoon onwards. Winds tend strong southwest in the evening with gales about coastal areas. Dry along the east coast with some high cloud, a few showers may move through in the evening then becoming more likely overnight as winds tend strong cold southerly.

The South Island sees heavy rain for the West Coast of the South Island easing from afternoon.

Strong southwesterly winds gusting to gale especially about coastal areas starting about the lower South Island in the morning then reaching Canterbury in the afternoon.

As showers move through Canterbury in the afternoon they may be heavy with hail.

Snow flurries to low levels (200 to 100m) about the lower South Island from late afternoon, 300m about the upper South Island by late evening and then lowering to 500m overnight about the lower North Island. For most snow is not expected to be heavy although do expect good falls high up in the mountains. The lower South Island however there is some potential for low level heavy falls. A check of Metservice’s warnings and watches is advised if snow may concern you over the next few days.

Not all regions and towns have been mentioned above. For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1000 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz