Snow, hail and cold winds have arrived in some parts of the South Island this morning and is expected in the North Island later today and early tomorrow as a very short lived southerly burst arrives.

The wintry snap – which is colder than last week’s brief cold snap but just as short – might drop snow flakes as low as just 100 metres in Southland and Otago – but it won’t stay long.

“This is a very short lived cold snap” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan. “For those in the Deep South it will last just 18 to 24 hours before lighter winds and warmer air returns”.

As of 8am Wednesday the first showers were making it into the North Island while rain, heavy at times, was moving up both sides of the South Island.

The main front was currently pushing into Christchurch too with showers now moving into Southland and Otago. Those showers will ease this evening and clear overnight with plenty of dry spells in between.

“This isn’t a major weather event but for some it will be briefly cold before windier, warmer, weather returns Friday and this weekend”.

WeatherWatch.co.nz forecaster Aaron Wilkinson says snow may fall to 400m today then 200 metres for a time late Wednesday for Canterbury, and down to about 400 metres in Marlborough and Wellington overnight.

Snow is not in the forecast for Christchurch but could fall on the Port Hills as low as 200m for a brief time. Small and isolated snow showers ares possible in Dunedin above 100m but don’t expect much.

However small hail is predicted for many of the South Island main centres.

Due to the wind flow and geography of the South Island we expect some areas, like South Canterbury, to be less exposed to precipitation and some inland areas may have a mostly dry day today now that the rain has passed further south.

In the North Island rain then showers will continue to push north today with rain developing in northern areas later.  Rain will turn to showers early Thursday as the cold change slowly moves through.

WeatherWatch.co.nz predicts snow will fall on the Desert Road late Wednesday and into Thursday along with the Rimutaka Ranges.

Single digit highs are predicted in parts of Southland, Otago and Canterbury on Wednesday.

So is winter making a comeback?  “This couldn’t be a more text book example of spring weather if it tried” says Mr Duncan. “Spring is all about regular reminders of winter coupled with increasing hints of summer. This week started off sunny and calm for many, with a wintry snap mid-week, then typical strong warmer spring westerlies this weekend. This is typical spring weather”.

Westerlies spring back into the forecast this Friday and weekend.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz