DETAILED UPDATE — A southwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand today, a front hits the lower South Island mid afternoon then moves northwards bringing very cold temperatures and strong winds. Strong cold southwesterlies continue on Saturday then ease on Sunday as a high pushes in from the Tasman Sea.

Friday

Purple – Strong cold southwesterly winds about coastal parts of the country during today with winds likely gusting to gale at times.

White – Late afternoon a very cold southwest change moves onto the lower South Island which reaches Canterbury later in the evening / overnight then the lower North Island overnight or perhaps more towards dawn on Saturday. This change will bring snow flurries about the lower South Island to low levels (50 – 100m) and to 300m about Canterbury. 400m about Marlborough overnight, 600m overnight about the ranges of Wairarapa and the Central North Island towards dawn on Saturday. Due to the nature of this particular change some parts of North Otago, South Canterbury and perhaps up into parts of Mid Canterbury may be fairly sheltered meaning little snow falling in these areas. The heaviest snow will likely be about Southland / Otago with lesser amounts further north.

Saturday

Purple – Strong cold southwesterlies continue about coastal parts of New Zealand during the day, winds may gust to gale at times.

White – Snow flurries about the lower South Island to low levels (50 to 100m), 300m about Banks Peninsula and then reaching down to about 500 or perhaps even 400m for the Central North Island. Snow isn’t very heavy in theses areas (it may be persistent in the morning about the lower south however) but it is very cold and quite low. Conditions gradually ease during the day.

Sunday

Blue – A frosty start for many inland areas, temperatures may get down to -6 or -7 about some isolated inland parts of South Canterbury / Otago

Purple – Gusty cold southwesterly winds ease in the east during the day.

– Please note, the idea behind this update is to focus on the main weather highlights, which is why not all regions are mentioned. 

For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1500 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz