Motorists will hopefully be earlier warned for the next snow storm – 900 people were caught off guard by the once in 25 year snow storm.  Image / NZ Defence Force.

Just days after a major snow storm across the North Island it’s looking likely that another snow storm is on the way – but this time for both islands.

In Metservice’s severe weather outlook issued Wednesday afternoon the government forecaster had “moderate confidence” that heavy snow would affect North Canterbury and Marlborough down to just 200 metres on Friday with heavy snow again for the Central Plateau, Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa ranges, down to 500 metres, on Friday or Saturday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz head weather analyst Philip Duncan says winter is not done yet.  “We are definitely in a new weather pattern which started around mid-September and could take weeks before it changes again.  This could be number two from a handful of snow storms, or rain storms, to affect New Zealand over the next month or so”.

Mr Duncan says the predicted snow storm could be another financial blow for farmers still counting the cost from this weeks cold snap.  “Farmers in the east coast of both islands have had a tough couple of years with droughts and floods.  Now it seems we can add snow storms to that list too”.

But there is some good news.  Despite the predicted cold snap conditions should quickly clear again. 

“This is spring, this is very typical weather.  We just had a quiet spring last year” says Mr Duncan.