There’s heavy rain, strong winds, low temperatures and snow this week – welcome to the school holidays, kids!

The midweek is looking rough in some parts of the country, and while everyone will get a taste of the lower temperatures, the worst of the weather looks confined to a few key areas through the next 3 days.

Wednesday

Heavy rain moves onto the West Coast of the South Island during the day, then eases overnight as a front moves northwards. 
For Taranaki and a small slither of the western North Island, you’ll note on the graphic provided that rain becomes heavy there overnight. 
Northerly winds during the day are likely to be strong for the upper South Island and through Cook Strait, and then western parts of the North Island overnight experience strong winds also from the north.

Thursday

A burst of heavy rain is possible about the upper North Island in the morning, before easing to showers by afternoon as northwest winds change southwest. 
Northerly winds blow strongly about the East Coast of the North Island first thing in the morning, before then easing away, while strong westerly winds about the western North Island during the day Taranaki southwards, winds gusting to gale at times. 
Overnight, we see heavy rain return to the West Coast of the South Island and northwesterly winds become strong for much of the South Island – although Fiordland, Otago and Southland’s winds may not be as bad. 
Northwesterly winds overnight for Canterbury and Marlborough in the east could be particularly strong from the northwest too.
Snow flurries are likely about the Fiordland Mountains and down into South Westland, lowering as far as 300m by afternoon for a time, before lifting up over 800m at night.
North Westland mountains sees snow flurries lower to 500m for a time in Thursday afternoon before lifting over 800m at night too.

Friday

Strong to gale northwesterly winds for much of the South Island, especially in the east – and also through Cook Strait.
Winds then ease from the south from morning, as a southwest change moves in – reaching the lower North Island by evening.
South to southwest winds along the Canterbury coast may gust to gale in the afternoon, then late evening too.
As those southerlies reach Wellington, they are likely to be strong to gale.
Strong northwesterly winds gust to gale, and then ramp up over the western North Island during the afternoon, then ease overnight.
The East Coast of the North Island sees gusty northwesterly winds develop in the afternoon, then overnight a strong to gale southwest change pushes northwards along the East Coast.
Mid to late afternoon, rain moves onto the western North Island and may be heavy for a time before easing in the evening.
By early or mid evening there could be heavy showers and possible thunderstorms for Taranaki – and the rest of the western North Island further northwards – later in the evening as a trough moves over. 

Rain for the West Coast of the South Island is likely to be heavy with possible thunderstorms, though these ease from afternoon.
Rain that moves into Canterbury during the afternoon may be heavy for a time (mainly inland), before easing by evening as well.
Snow flurries could reach down to around 500m for a time about Southland & Otago, then clear up before midday.
In the evening though, showers return, with snow flurries right down to 600m for a time.
Canterbury should see some snow down to 500m, with any rain clearing in the evening.
Snow is likely about the Central Plateau in the evening & overnight down to 700m.
Any thunderstorms on Friday will carry with them a risk of hail – anywhere in New Zealand.

– Please note, the idea behind this update is to focus on the main weather highlights, which is why not all regions are mentioned. 

For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1000 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson & Drew Chappell, WeatherWatch.co.nz