As we get geared up to take on this southerly storm the temperatures are set to plummet and icy winds will make it feel even worse.

The mercury will be almost single figures everywhere on Friday and some might struggle to make it above freezing in amongst blizzard-like conditions either late Thursday or Friday.

Christchurch is looking at 2 or 3 degrees as the high on Friday and Dunedin not much better – add in the windchill factor and the ‘feels like’ temperature dips below freezing.
Wellington at the end of the week could be as low as mid single figures with a snow flurry or two possible down to near sea level.

Although Auckland is likely to be a few degrees better off, 10 or 11 degrees for part of the week, will feel even colder in the wind.
Thunder and hail is also a possibility for a time for the city of sails.

Inland central areas of the South Island are expected to bear the brunt and it still sees decent snow could lie on the ground down to sea level.
Above 3-400 metres amounts could get close  to the half metre mark, especially in snowdrifts.

The first of the southerly surge is timed for the deep south later Wednesday and moving up the east coast during the evening and night. There could be a reprieve for a time on Thursday but late Thursday looks bleak at the moment.

Winds still appear to be most powerful across central New Zealand, especially Wellington and the Wairarapa.

Snow and rain totals will vary depending on location but there’s potential for this storm to be one of the most impactful in years in some exposed areas to the south and east and we’d rather forewarn than be conservative on this one.

-WeatherWatch