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

COLD SOUTHWESTERLIES BLAST NORTHWARDS

A cold front marches northwards over the country today, the South Island this morning then the North Island from this afternoon.

Expect a temperature drop when this change hits, there will be some snow about the South Island ranges also, perhaps as low as 400m in the south, 500 to 600m further north. Accumulations of note will be higher up. Higher parts of the Desert Road will likely see snow flurries on Wednesday.

Winds will be strong for coastal parts as this change moves through, Cook Strait especially sees winds rise to gale this afternoon.

For watches and warnings on today’s weather from Metservice, please see this page here.

STILL COLD ON WEDNESDAY, FROSTS DEVELOP

Frost potential exists on Wednesday morning, again for Thursday morning also. The South Island is the main target for Wednesday morning, while the map below suggests frost are possible for inland parts of the upper South Island, the most likely areas will be for the Mackenzie Country southwards.

Thursday morning has a risk of frosts again in the morning, this time the upper South Island can be included, perhaps inland parts of the North Island also.

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THE WEATHER SETTLES DOWN FROM THURSDAY

A thin ridge of high pressure starts to sneak in over the country on Thursday, western areas will see the bulk of any sun with cloud shrouding eastern regions. Wellington and Wairarapa continue to see showers and strong coastal southwesterly winds.

Once Friday comes along most regions are settled with some sun however there will be some high cloud moving in from the west ahead of a front in the Tasman Sea, this brings rain in the west on Saturday.

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