Today a front sweeps northwards over New Zealand bringing in a cold change. Strong south to southwesterly winds continue on Thursday. Friday sees a ridge move over the South Island bringing clearer skies and easing winds, while the North Island still has cold southerlies.

Wednesday

Blue – Heavy rain for the West Coast of the South Island eases around midday.

Purple – Strong southwesterly winds gust to gale at times about coastal areas, starting about the lower South Island in the morning then reaching the upper North Island later in the evening. Strong northwesterly winds through Cook Strait ease late afternoon / evening as winds change southerly.

White – Snow flurries to low levels (200 to 100m) about the lower South Island from late afternoon, 300m about the upper South Island by late evening and then lowering to 500m overnight about the lower North Island. For most, snow is not expected to be heavy down low except about the lower South Island where there is some potential for low level heavy falls. A check of Metservice’s warnings and watches is advised if snow may concern you over the next few days.

Heavy showers and hail are possible for Canterbury this afternoon as a strong southwest change moves through, when winds will likely gust to gale force.

Thursday

Purple – Strong south to southwesterly winds with gusts to gale about most coastal areas, as marked below. Easing evening / overnight for the South Island.

White – Snow flurries to 300m or perhaps even 200m about Canterbury ease in the evening, becoming fairly coastal. Snow flurries to 300m in Marlbourough, more so in the south. Snow flurries to 400m for the lower North Island and eastern ranges.

Purple – Strong southerlies for coastal parts of the North Island ease overnight.

White – Snow flurries about eastern ranges of the North Island to 400m gradually lift to 600m by evening.

A frosty start for many about the inland South Island.