A high covers most of New Zealand today, breezy easterlies for the far north. A ridge weakens on Wednesday then a front slowly moves southwards over the upper North Island later in the day, a cold front moves onto the lower South Island later in the evening / overnight. This cold front combines with a warm front coming out of a low in the Tasman Sea on Thursday over central South Island regions and may deliver some warm advection snow to inland areas. Meanwhile an occluded front continues to move southwards over the North Island during the day.

Tuesday

Blue – A frosty start about much of the inner South Island, no major frosts just standard in the range of 0 to -2 degrees celsius.

Purple – Easterly winds becoming breezy about eastern Northland from afternoon.

Some fog also possible about inland / eastern parts of the North Island this morning then breaking away.

Wednesday

Blue – From afternoon heavy showers may start to affect Northland then slowly slipping southwards through to Coromandel overnight.

Overnight there may be some heavy rain about South Westland for a time.

White – A cold front pushes onto the lower South Island later in the evening then moves into Otago overnight, this front carries with it fairly cold air so some snow may develop to 300m for a time however it is looking to be fairly brief at this stage then easing or perhaps clearing around dawn on Thursday as this frontal feature moves northwards.

Purple – Easterly winds about Northland and Auckland are fairly gusty, moving a little further southwards in the evening.

A pre frontal northwest airflow becomes gusty about coastal parts of the lower South Island from morning then easing later in the afternoon.

Thursday

Blue – Areas of heavy rain / showers ease about Auckland and the Waikato afternoon onwards, perhaps more towards evening for the Bay Of Plenty. For the east coast of the North Island rain / showers becoming heavy during the afternoon.

White – A little delayed but still looking to develop in model output. Warm advection snow sets up about the inner South Island from North Otago in the morning through to North Canterbury afternoon onwards. Snow isn’t looking overly heavy for Thursday however it will still be of concern to travellers and farmers, ski fields will be welcoming any falls. Please note this event may continue through to Friday then clearing overnight.

Snow lowering to 300m about North Otago / South Canterbury during the morning although it may back off from afternoon in terms of intensity however the air will still cold. Starting out higher about Mid Canterbury then lowering to 500m or perhaps 400m in the evening. Snow lowering to 500m about North Canterbury in the evening.

– 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