A large storm in the Southern Ocean will fire up a number of cold fronts today into the South Island bringing rain, snow and gales.

Snow is expected to be heavy along the Southern Alps, especially in the deep south around Fiordland and ski fields around Queenstown.

Rain will be very heavy along the West Coast at times with that rain followed by heavy squally showers.

Some of those showers will be torrential with hail and thunderstorms – winds may also be damaging in squally showers up the West Coast as the day goes on.

Showers some with hail will also affect Southland while eastern areas will start off with warm nor’westers then change to a squally southerly.

Over the North Island the day starts out fairly settled with cloudy periods, then strong winds will build in the south and east reaching severe gale at times in the more exposed areas and up to gale force in the main centres.  Rain or showers will arrive at the end of the day in the south and overnight further north.

Those gales in the east, such as around Wairarapa and parts of Hawkes Bay and Wellington, may gust over 120km/h in exposed areas.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz