WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters continue to track a short southerly snap we first predicted eight days ago, as it gradually moves up the country.

Snow has fallen to low levels in Dunedin this morning with snow falling across Southland and Otago.  But as predicted by WeatherWatch.co.nz snow accumulations are not high for most areas, in particular the crucial lambing regions.

“While this is significantly cold it is not what we’d describe as ‘a significant event’ so yes, some snow around today, some hail and gales too – but in another 24 hours it will be a very different picture” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

“A large high is coming in and those gusty winds will ease – then we have frosts which will then be a serious concern for growers”.

South Island

This hour Dunedin is still on just 4 degrees but Invercargill has warmed a little to 6, a possible sign that already the worst has been through coastal Southland, although inland temperatures are still hovering around zero with snow showers.

Canterbury remains mostly dry but a strong, cold, southerly is blasting exposed parts of the region, with Banks Peninsula most exposed to the gales, showers and snow flurries.  “For Canterbury this is mostly a non-event but we do expect colder and more wintry weather to arrive later today and tonight with the risk of a few flurries to sea level and some hail”.

Christchurch has a temperature of 11 degrees this hour but the ‘feels like’ temperature calculated by WeatherWatch.co.nz says it feels more like 6 degrees.

Dunedin’s ‘feels like’ temperature is currently minus 2 in the wind.

North Island

The North Island is considerably warmer but still cooler than it has been lately. 

Wellington has 12 degrees and a strong westerly – a southerly with snow flurries to low levels is possible this evening. “We aren’t expecting snow in the city centre but it’s possible a few snow flurries will fall over higher suburbs of Wellington tonight and also on State Highway 2 over the Rimutaka Ranges” says Mr Duncan.

WeatherWatch.co.nz also predicts snow for the Desert Road tonight, possibly heavy enough to close it.  Snow flurries are also predicted tomorrow across the Desert Road.

A near gale westerly is affecting Taranaki while more heavy showers are predicted to affect the region this afternoon, some with hail.

Heavy showers with near gale westerlies are also affecting Auckland.  Hail has also been reported.  The city is fairly mild with 16 degrees this hour, compared to only 11 degrees in Hamilton.  Showers will become heavier this afternoon with winds turning cooler south west.

In the east Napier is on around 12 but it’s warmer in Gisborne with a strong westerly and 16 degrees.

Whangarei – being furthest from the cold snap – is also the warmest of the main centres, on 17 degrees as of 11am.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz