Early on Tuesday a cold southwest change moves onto the lower South Island then pushing northwards to reach the lower North Island overnight.

Sunny spells and a few showers for the upper North Island, shower activity may be a little more frequent during the afternoon. The Waikato and Bay Of Plenty drier overall, still the risk of a shower in the afternoon. West to southwesterly winds.

A mix of sun and cloud about the lower North Island in the west, chance of a shower, mainly in the evening. Overnight brings a greater risk of showers as a southerly change moves in. Snow will affect higher parts of the desert road by dawn on Wednesday. Westerlies change southerly overnight.

A sunny day with light westerlies along the east coast, overnight a cold southwest change moves into the Wairarapa bringing showers. Mainly sunny with north to northwesterly winds for Wellington, an overnight southerly change (becoming strong through Cook Strait) brings showers. Snow flurries possible to 500m by dawn on Wednesday.

Sunny with light winds about Marlborough and Nelson after a frosty start, later in the evening a cold southwest change moves in bringing a few showers and snow flurries overnight down to 400m, perhaps 300m at a push.

Sunny for Canterbury after a frosty start then around midday a cold southwesterly change (gusty about the coast for a time) moves into South Canterbury then pushing through the rest of the region during the afternoon. Expect rain with this change, easing a little in the evening / overnight, snow lowers to 200m overnight.

A rain band about Fiordland moves into North Westland during the afternoon. Rain clearing in behind as northwesterlies change south to southeast. Any early morning southwest change about Southland / Otago brings rain which then eases to showers by midday. Snow to 400m lowers to near sea level overnight.

White – Heavy Snow above 200/300 metres, maybe lowering to 100m for a time (but not expected to be heavy at sea level)
Purple – Strong winds through Cook Strait.

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