A southwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand on Friday, a front hits the lower South Island mid afternoon then moves northwards bringing very cold temperatures and strong winds.
Cloudy areas and the odd shower for the upper North Island, the Waiakato and Bay Of Plenty are looking to be mainly dry with some sun possible. Breezy west to southwesterly winds.
For the lower North Island in the west, any early showers clear then expect sunny spells with strengthening westerly winds. Chance of a shower from evening then overnight a strong southwest change moves in bringing some rain, perhaps some snow about higher parts of the Desert Road by dawn on Saturday.
Sunny spells along the east coast, winds gusty from the southwest then tending westerly in the afternoon at which point skies become sunnier. Overnight a strong southwest change moves in bringing showers, snow flurries about the ranges of Wairarapa to 500m.
Any early morning showers clear Wellington then expect sunny spells with northwesterlies freshening from midday. Overnight winds change strong cold southerly bringing showers and a few snow flurries to 500m.
Mainly sunny about Marlborough and Nelson with west to northwesterly winds, overnight a gusty southwest change brings a few showers and snow flurries to 400m for a brief time. Canterbury, mostly sunny with west to northwesterly winds, later in the evening a strong southwest change brings a burst of wintry showers and snow flurries to 300m at night before clearing away.
Mostly cloudy along the West Coast with the odd shower, showers more likely in the evening as gusty westerlies tend strong southwest. Some snow in the evening about the ranges to 500m (perhaps 400m) for a time before clearing overnight.
For the lower South Island, showers about Southland with snow flurries to 400m, late afternoon westerly winds tend strong southwest (gales about the coast) with the snow level lowering to near sea level. Flurries may sit just about sea level or perhaps give only brief bursts to sea level at times, Invercargill often gets no snow as Stewart Island shelters the city in southwest air flows. For Otago expect gusty westerly winds, cloudy areas and the chance of a shower, late afternoon winds tend strong southwest bringing a higher risk of showers and snow flurries develop to low levels later in the evening (50 to 100m).
Blue – Heavy form of precipitation.
Purple – Strong winds.
Yellow – Temperatures around the mid 20 degree mark or over.
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 1500 forecasts on our homepage!
– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz
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