The big developing low we’ve been talking about all week starts to move in this weekend and brings rain, showers, some thunder and snow into the South Island – and some sunny mild weather in the east of the North Island.

It’s a complicated forecast with a lot of moving parts, with some severe weather possible this weekend (heavy rain warnings and heavy snow warnings possible, so keep up to date with Government forecaster MetService for any tax funded weather warnings and watches).

Snow is possible in Queenstown this weekend and surrounds – it’s a bit of a borderline set up so we’re not sure if you’ll be able to build a snowman in your backyard, or maybe a short drive to slightly higher ground. Snow may be mixed in with rain, as it’s a complicated set up this weekend. Queenstown has highs of just 3 or 4 degrees this weekend and next week too and it may be a damp cold.

As for next week, a storm well south in the Southern Ocean will send up another pulse of cold air early next week, making for wintry conditions in the lower South Island. Latest data continues to suggest it will pull away east enough to just spare the South Island from a major blast but next week, especially for those in calving, should be aware of a likely cold southerly wind and biting wind chills for a time early next week, peaking on Tuesday.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz