Because low pressure is forming this weekend around New Zealand many places will be cloudy or partly cloudy and showers may develop and even set-in in some areas. Also, with colder air around the South Island snow is expected around the mountains and ranges with heavier falls across the Southern Alps, foothills and some lighter flurries going down to lower levels – although they won’t accumulate to much in most lower locations.

This cold air then moves further into the North Island as we go into Sunday and low pressure moves over the north of NZ – this should see rain moving eastwards across the North Island while colder, wetter, air arrives in the lower South Island bringing rain, hail and snow. Dry areas are in between the rain in the north and south. This is still a changeable forecast so keep up-to-date with our hourly and daily forecasts – the “Trend” rain, temp and wind graphs in our App show general start/peak/end times of the incoming surges of weather.

⚠️❄️Updated #Snow forecast for the North Island – 48 hours from 9am Monday to 9am Wednesday: pic.twitter.com/8j3SIWjNRT

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) September 14, 2024

⚠️❄️Updated #Snow forecast for the South Island – next 72 hours: pic.twitter.com/wIuTSbnaMi

— WeatherWatch.co.nz (@WeatherWatchNZ) September 14, 2024

On Monday and Tuesday a wintry and Antarctic change moves up much of the country with lower temperatures and snow on the hills and ranges across both main islands. This will bring winter weather to livestock and windchill will be tough for newborn animals over Monday and Tuesday.

Most places have two to three much colder days – some in the very south may have more.

In true early spring fashion milder westerlies look to return mid to late next week with above normal temperatures returning.

As always drill down deeper with your hyper-local forecasts at WeatherWatch.co.nz – they update hourly – or download our Free WeatherWatch App.