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

#11am: The wintry blast has now engulfed all of #NewZealand.

⚡️Thunderstorms in both main islands & the Chathams.

💨Winds gusting over gale in exposed areas.

❄️Current Snow on the ranges (🔵Blue = A trace to 20cm, 🟣Purple = 20 to 40cm, 🩷Pink = 50cm+).… pic.twitter.com/nMYP4mpvnk

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) August 1, 2023

🎥🍿💨#Animation: NZ's gales in 10 seconds!

Windy weather is ramping up today across #NewZealand with severe gales in some places.

This basic animation shows you the surge of peak wind gusts over the next 24 hours.https://t.co/gb7E1quzdb / https://t.co/D35ySCkVqG / @IBM pic.twitter.com/q7rRiX9svu

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) August 1, 2023

🥶🥵Here's another reason we keep saying these cold snaps are more like spring… yesterday most of NZ was warmer than average for this time of year. Tomorrow the South Island is again milder than usual as westerlies return.https://t.co/gb7E1quzdb / https://t.co/D35ySCkVqG pic.twitter.com/0q3XTHmBnf

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) August 1, 2023

❄️#Snow showers are tapering off today for the South Island but still some snow coming.

Lowest expected snowfall in the deep south is 100m.
Snow may also affect the Desert Rd.https://t.co/gb7E1quzdb / https://t.co/D35ySCkVqG – snow symbols showing now for some local forecasts. pic.twitter.com/tyX0q1KS0h

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) August 1, 2023

🎧⚡️AUDIO: The feud between NZ's two big Government weather forecasters.

Bonnie Harrison (@bbmharrison) of The Detail interviews science reporter Paul Gorman (@weatherpaulg) to discuss the history between @niwa_nz & @MetService & the new Govt review.https://t.co/D60xxP5x0Q

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) August 1, 2023

FRONT BRINGS THUNDERSTORMS

A front has brought heavy downpours with thunderstorms to western parts of the North Island as it’s moved northwards early this morning. Yesterday and last night the West Coast of the South Island got its far share.

A southerly blast will hit Wellington this morning bringing heavy showers but thunderstorms chances are low.

Watch the movement of these fronts on our rain radar page (courtesy of Metservice) here.

WARNINGS A PLENTY

The weather is very unsettled around New Zealand today with many watches and warnings out relating to thunderstorms, hail, snow and strong winds.

For today’s watches and warnings issued by Metservice please see this page here.

Today’s thunderstorm outlook can be seen here (courtesy of Metservice).

CONDITIONS EASE FROM THURSDAY

There are still a few heavy showers in the east tomorrow morning but these ease during the day. Watch for a frosty start Thursday morning about many South Island and inner North Island areas with a sunny day to follow.

Friday has very nice weather returning in the east with temperatures bumping up a little, the odd shower returns in the west north of Taranaki late afternoon or evening. About the far south a cold front moves in from afternoon bringing rain, showers reach Canterbury later in the evening. Some snow in the ranges is likely, to around 500 to 600m, a little lower for southeastern parts of Southland / Otago and Banks Peninsula later in the day.

• 

• 

•