The main cold southerly today and tonight spreads right across New Zealand and this will see more heavy snow in the Southern Alps and other South Island ranges while showers generally shift from west coast to east coast nationwide.

The gusty sou’wester over many parts of the North Island will swing colder southerly by tonight and this is when showers switch to being mainly east coast for the next day or two ahead. This southerly flow will clear the clouds in many western areas too.

Main highlights:

• The southeastern coastline of the country is exposed to strong southerly winds caused by a developed large low pressure to the southeast.
• The wind speed will increase through Sunday night, as a high over the Tasman Sea will strengthen the pressure gradient.
• Light showery rain continues to occur in the North Island and will be mostly over by tonight when clear skies will spread into central and western areas while becoming colder too.
• Wind speeds exceeding 50 km/h will persist in exposed areas along the eastern coastline of both islands until Monday morning.
• Snow accumulation is expected in interior Otago and Marlborough, with especially heavy snow over the Kaikoura Ranges during Sunday night

– WeatherWatch.co.nz