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

WARM IN THE EAST

Today has really good temperatures for eastern regions, in the mid to late teens. Even tomorrow has more warm temperatures in store, possibly topping 20 degrees for the eastern North Island.

The proviso to tomorrow is that north to northwesterly winds for the South Island will be strong in the east, about Southland and Otago winds will likely be gale force for coastal areas. Expect heavy rain in the west and rain or showers spreading eastwards as a cold front pushes northwards over the South Island, rain hits the lower North Island overnight.

Temperatures take a dive on Wednesday as cold air spreads northwards.

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THUNDERSTORMS, HAIL, STRONG WINDS AND SNOW COMING

Thunderstorms / hail

A cold front moving into South Westland from this afternoon then moving northwards to reach Buller overnight brings a risk of thunderstorms and hail to the West Coast.

An unstable westerly quarter airflow lies over the South Island on Tuesday, a vigorous cold front pushing northwards during the afternoon will likely bring thunderstorms and hail about the far south and up along the West Coast.

Another chance of thunderstorms with hail for the far south and up along the West Coast occurs overnight as some very cold upper air moves through, a risk occurs for much of the North Island on Wednesday south of Auckland.

Any thunderstorm risks for the eastern South Island are lower overall but Wednesday could see some along the coastal fringe or exposed coastal areas like Banks Peninsula, more so from afternoon.

Strong winds

Strong northwesterlies develop over the South Island on Tuesday ahead of a cold front that pushes northwards, the airflow changes a little more to the west in behind then swaps to the southwest overnight reaching the North Island on Wednesday morning. Southwesterlies as they move northwards will likely be strong to gale force for most coastal areas in the west and east.

Later on Wednesday southwesterlies start easing for the West Coast then overnight for the western North Island. Thursday and Friday could potentially see southerly quarter winds continue to be strong for the North Island especially in the east, finally easing Saturday.

Snow

Snow lowers overnight Tuesday to 300m about the far south, 400m further north along the West Coast. By dawn on Wednesday expect snow to 600m for the Central Plateau.

Snow may fall as low as 300 to 200m about the far south and right up the east coast of the South Island from Wednesday afternoon into the evening, later in the day precipitation clears away from inland areas and becomes more coastal. In the evening snow flurries may get down to 400m for the lower / eastern North Island.

Conditions start to ease on Thursday but there are still showers in the east Canterbury northwards with snow flurries to 400m, 300m for Banks Peninsula.

Any watches and warnings coming up will be issued by Metservice, you can see them here.

Metservice’s thunderstorm outlook can be viewed here.

HIGH PRESSURE FROM FRIDAY

Weather models (GFS) are suggesting high pressure moves in over the South Island on Friday, so expect settled and sunny weather then but it’ll likely be a frosty start.

The western and upper North Island looks to have good weather on Friday but the east coast continues to see showers into the weekend while elsewhere has settled conditions.