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

HEAVY SHOWERS IN THE WEST EASE

A front passing over the North Island brings heavy showers in the west first thing this morning but this eases and sunny spells increase this afternoon. Morning scattered rain or spits in the east clear then afternoon sun breaks through.

The South Island has sunny weather in the east today, very nice conditions with afternoon temperatures into the early twenties. From this evening heavy rain moves into South Westland as a new front pushes in from the Tasman Sea, overnight rain spills over into Southland and Central Otago.

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COLD BLAST THURSDAY / FRIDAY

Today may calm down a little after the front mentioned above clears the North Island but Thursday has multiple fronts pushing north over the South Island.

Very early on (overnight tonight / early Thursday morning) expect strong northwesterlies to set up over the South Island, gales are possible for inland areas. Very cold air arrives in the south later on Thursday then moves northwards overnight.

Strong winds, heavy rain, thunderstorms, hail and snow are all going to be in the picture. On Friday we are potentially talking about a snow level to maybe only 100m in the far south and down to around 400 to 300m in Canterbury.

A front pushes over the North Island on Friday but this will be in a more weakened state than compared to when it moves through further south, rain in the west is likely with a few scattered falls spreading eastwards. Winds through Cook Strait are likely to be strong to gale from the northwest on Thursday, easing back a touch overnight, as southerlies push in to Wellington on Friday winds will back off.

Metservice will be busy issuing weather watches and warnings for all this weather that is soon to arrive. Keep up to date here.

Philip Duncan will have a video out later this morning covering all the bases, check it out on this website.

FROSTY THIS WEEKEND

After a cold blast similar to the type we are about to go through, typically frosts can result in the following days, this situation is no different. Both Saturday and Sunday mornings have a risk, Saturday morning has the strongest risk.

Go to ruralweather.co.nz and use the search function then click on the “Frost” tab, it can give an idea if a frost risk could be coming up for you.