WeatherWatch.co.nz is this afternoon saying thank you to MetService’s severe forecast team for their early and accurate warning of this week’s severe snow storm.

The weather news website says the state owned forecaster first alerted New Zealand to the cold snap a week ago – and, overall, their prediction was very accurate.

“It’s always tricky predicting a storm well in advance but their warnings were bang on – and for that we thank them” said WeatherWatch.co.nz’s head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

MetService first alerted the public to the storm a week ago.

“I realise we don’t always see eye to eye but credit where credit’s due” said Mr Duncan “They nailed this one from a warning perspective”.

Forecasters from both WeatherWatch.co.nz and MetService have worked through several long days as the storm developed over the weekend and still remains in some eastern areas this afternoon, although it has significantly eased today.

“I’m sure there will be many forecasters getting a much better nights sleep tonight” he said.

– Homepage image — Snow in Wellington this week / Jaymie Morgan