Two systems are working together to bring a “bit of everything” to New Zealand this weekend reports WeatherWatch.co.nz.

To the north lies a very slow but large low pressure system while in the south west a large high is today changing shape to fire up a very cold southerly change – potentially our coldest of the year.

“The low in the north is continuing to pump out rain band after rain band – but with dry spells in between” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.  He says there is a low to moderate risk of isolated thunderstorms across northern New Zealand on Saturday morning and on Friday thunder was reported over Whangarei as a band of heavy rain and showers moved south.

Throughout Saturday the rain will continue to slowly nudge southwards, clouding up the skies over the South Island.

At the exact same time a cold front is firing out of the Southern Ocean and will move in to the Southland coastline by late afternoon bringing a cold southerly change and showers with sleet or hail.

By nighttime another cold front will arrive, bringing snow to sea level in Southland then into Otago and Canterbury during Sunday, including most of the main centres along the eastern coastline. 

As the cold air hits rain bands already over the North Island rain will turn to snow with WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters predicting rain and sleet in Wellington late Sunday and more so into Monday with a snow/rain mix possible in the higher suburbs and also near or in Palmerston North, Masterton, Taupo and Stratford overnight Sunday and into Monday.

Snow could affect driving conditions in both islands, with North Island roads most exposed to snow being the SH2 over the Rimutaka Ranges, SH5 the Napier Taupo highway and SH1 the Desert Road.  Highest risk for the South Island is from Saturday night to Monday morning, while the North Island’s risk is from late Sunday to early Tuesday.

– Homepage image / A not so distant memory, snow in Queenstown just 2 weeks ago / Alison Metherell

– WeatherWatch.co.nz

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