A northwesterly airflow builds over New Zealand today then a front coming in from the southwest hits the lower South Island late afternoon / evening bringing in a cold change. Westerlies return on Tuesday then another even colder southwest change moves onto the lower South Island in the afternoon before pushing northwards. A strong southwesterly airflow eases later on Wednesday.

Monday

Blue – Rain with heavy falls moves onto South Westland this afternoon then pushes northwards in the evening. Rain eases overnight.

Purple – Northwesterlies about the upper South Island inland and through Cook Strait becoming brisk to strong from evening, winds may gust to gale.

Tuesday

Blue – Heavy rain moves into Fiordland in the morning then moving into North Westland during the afternoon, rain eases to showers in the evening.

Purple – We have a brisk westerly airflow for much of the country, strong about parts of Central New Zealand. A strong southwest change moves onto the lower South Island then moves northwards reaching the upper North Island overnight. This southwest change brings strong winds to many coastal areas with a risk of gales.

White – As the cold change mentioned above moves onto the lower South Island in the afternoon with it brings a risk of snow. While many areas below are shaded in, Canterbury and Marlborough in particular will only get a few flurries to the levels mentioned next in this statement then clearing away. Southland and Otago sees snow lower to 400 or perhaps even 300m at times during the afternoon / evening, easing towards dawn on Wednesday. Canterbury sees brief flurries to 400m overnight, Marlborough to 500m. Some parts of the Central North Island sees flurries down to 800m by dawn on Wednesday.