Wednesday sees a very cold southerly airflow cover New Zealand with a low deepening later in the day east of the North Island.

Early morning rain eases to the odd shower and sunny spells for the upper North Island. Fresh southwesterly winds tend southerly in the afternoon about Waikato, further north in the evening.

Lower North Island in the west. Rain with snow lowering to 400 or perhaps even 300m by midday then clearing early to mid afternoon, remaining fairly cloudy. Rain (possibly heavy) doesn’t ease and clear Taranaki till evening. Rain pushes in again overnight or perhaps more towards dawn on Thursday with snow to 700m. Cold southerly winds increase from morning, strong to gale about the coast.

Rain about the Wairarapa pushes into Hawkes Bay towards midday then reaching Gisborne in the afternoon with a cold southwest change. Conditions easing later in the evening for most and clearing overnight. However about the Wairarapa heavy rain sets in overnight with strong southeasterly winds.

Snow lowers to 300m about the Wairarapa, 500m or perhaps even 400m for Hawkes Bay, Gisborne sees snow lower to 600m in the evening about the ranges. Overnight as that heavy rain pushes back into the Wairarapa the snow level rises to 700m.

Morning showers and snow flurries to 300m clear about Wellington, remaining fairly cloudy then overnight rain moves in, possibly heavy with snow to 600m. Brisk to strong southerly winds. Gales through Cook Strait rising to severe gale overnight. Wellington itself may experience severe gale Southerly winds by dawn on Thursday.

A few morning showers and snow flurries to 300m clear about Nelson / Marlborough, afternoon sunny spells. Overnight or perhaps more towards dawn on Thursday heavy rain may move in to coastal Marlborough, this brings the risk of heavy snow down to 500m. Winds brisk to strong from the south with gales about the coast, rising to severe gale overnight.

Wintry showers for Canterbury, snow flurries to low levels (200 to 100m) possibly near sea level at times (mainly morning). South Canterbury may be fairly dry in the morning with shower activity pushing in during the afternoon. Snow is looking to be reasonably persistent about Mid and North Canterbury evening / overnight down to 200m. Winds fresh from the south becoming strong about the coast from afternoon.

Mainly sunny along the West Coast with south to southeasterly winds, cloud and a few showers inland about the ranges pushing in from the east. Showers more likely about the ranges in the evening with snow flurries to 300 or perhaps even 200m.

A few sleety showers about Southland and Otago with snow flurries to near sea level (more likely about 100m and above), there may be periods of dry especially about Southland in the afternoon. Flurries lift to 300m at night. Cold south to southwesterly winds.

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