Here’s what is making the weather headlines today….

⚠️The first major winter storm of 2023 is brewing in the Southern Ocean and will intensify on Thursday, peaking this weekend with snow, gales and downpours.

💧Here's the 3 day #rainfall outlook from this morning.
❄️+ 3 day #snowfall outlook from this Friday. pic.twitter.com/bZTA6H9oDX

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) June 26, 2023

RAIN TO MOVE IN – EASTERN SOUTH ISLAND

Canterbury has showers develop this afternoon, turning to rain by evening and becoming widespread. There may even be some heavy or at least persistent rain this evening south of Banks Peninsula. Rain should ease overnight from the north.

Later this evening or overnight coastal Otago is in with a shot of some persistent or perhaps heavy rain. Forecasted amounts for Dunedin today are 12.8mm (starting this evening) and 19mm on Wednesday (heaviest in the wee small hours first thing).

Rain may move in again on Wednesday regarding Canterbury with some locations receiving more than Tuesday. Rain on Wednesday if anything will be more persistent nearer the coast from afternoon, there is a chance persistent rain will sit just offshore.

For more information on rain for your location with the latest information please visit ruralweather.co.nz and use the search function.

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HEAVY SHOWERS IN THE NORTH

Cold upper air will lead to a few isolated heavy showers for Auckland and Northland today, mainly this afternoon. Perhaps a chance of thunder also.

A risk appears again on Wednesday afternoon for the upper North Island then maybe even again on Thursday (late afternoon / evening).

Thunderstorm risks from Metservice can be seen here.

HIGH PRESSURE ANY TIME SOON?

Not really, it’s looking quite unsettled at the moment. Glaring far into the future, 9 days away a high is appearing in the models with some settled weather finally. Will that play out? We will have to wait and see, too hard to call at this stage.