Here’s what is making the weather headlines today….

HEAVY RAIN – WEST COAST

A front brings heavy rain to the West Coast this morning, easing before or around midday as the front moves northwards / eastwards.

The western North Island sees a chance of heavy rain also from this afternoon then easing from evening.

Any warnings from Metservice on this rain can be seen here.

RAIN OUTLOOK

The next seven days is looking likely to see an average amount of rainfall in the east and a slightly higher than average rainfall in the west.

At least eastern regions between fronts should brighten up at times, it’s been a bit of a dreary cloudy week for the east coast of the South Island lately.

The map below runs from today through to Monday 3rd July. Blue colouring means that part of the country is likely to see more rainfall than would normally be expected at this time of year, red means less rainfall is expected and white is an average amount of rainfall. The more intense either red or blue then either scenario is more true.

ANY COLD AIR ON THE WAY FOR SKI FIELDS?

Yes some cold air is coming, the 30th June on wards into early July looks to have some cold upper air on the way. These are the types of temperatures we need for snow in the ski fields.

But will precipitation get to where it’s needed? Cold air is all good and well but if the flow is a particular way (critical southwesterly) shower activity can slip up either side and not get into the middle over the Main Divide.

So a cold front moving northwards on Friday looks to bring showers, there’s no heavy snow in there but a little snow for the ski fields sure enough. Saturday could be interesting Canterbury northwards with some heavy snow potential especially North Canterbury / Kaikoura.

Sunday and Monday are a little inconclusive at this stage, starting to get a bit far out but more updates here when they come to hand.