A southwesterly airflow lies over New Zealand today, early on Tuesday a cold southwest change moves onto the lower South Island then pushing northwards to reach the lower North Island overnight. Wednesday sees a very cold southerly airflow cover New Zealand.

Monday

Blue – A frosty start this morning, the coldest temperatures being around -6 to -7 degrees about Twizel / Mount Cook and perhaps some other isolated spots of the inner South Island. There may be a touch of fog about some inland South Island areas also.

Tuesday

White – A cold southwest change hits Southland early in the morning then reaches the lower North Island overnight. Generally speaking there will be some heavier snow with the change however this will be higher in the ranges then easing after a period of time to flurries, the snow level will lower with these lighter flurries. Parts of Canterbury north of about the Rakaia river through to northern North Canterbury may see some reasonable snow however for a longer period of time through the night. Some snow about Southland / Otago to 400m at first then lowering to low levels (200 to 100m) or perhaps even near sea level at times overnight. Snow lowers overnight to 200m about Canterbury, 400 or perhaps 300m at a push overnight for Marlborough / Nelson. The Wellington region may see flurries to 500m by dawn on Wednesday, the Central North Island sees flurries to 700m by dawn on Wednesday.

Purple – As this change pushes northwards expect a period of gusty southwesterlies about Banks Peninsula then overnight strong Southerlies develop through Cook Strait.

Wednesday

White – Bitterly cold south to southwesterly winds bring snow flurries to low levels at times for much of the southern and eastern South Island. Flurries may reach to near sea level at times. Marlborough / Nelson will have a mainly dry day after any early showers clear.

Snow flurries about the Central North Island to 700m at first then lowering to 500m in the afternoon. Flurries about the Wellington region to 500m at first lower to 300m in the afternoon. Flurries easing or perhaps clearing in the evening for most at this stage. Some snow lowers to 500m by evening about the ranges of Hawkes Bay, 800m for Gisborne.

Purple – Brisk to strong southerly winds push through central New Zealand for much of the day, gusting to gale at times about coastal areas.

– Please note, the idea behind this update is to focus on the main weather highlights, which is why not all regions are mentioned. 

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