All the advisories were out on Friday but it appears the weekend wintry snap hasn’t turned out to be such a big event. 

While cold weather has affected the South Island with snow around Queenstown today and snow to even lower levels expected overnight, it’s becoming clear the system hasn’t lived up to the forecasts.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says the main problem was a lack of moisture.  “The system just didn’t have enough moisture in it to really generate big snow falls and large thunderstorms.  To be honest it’s a bit of a fizzer”.

Heavy squally showers and thunderstorms did form today but the majority of the activity hung just off the Taranaki and Auckland coastlines.  “The energy and instability is there, but it just hasn’t really affected populated places”.

Mr Duncan says it’s not over yet, with a small low developing off the West Coast and drifting towards Taranaki tonight.  “This will inject a bit more energy into thunder and shower activity off the North Island’s west coast during Sunday.  There could be a few thunderstorms and heavy showers, so people should still be aware that conditions remain very unsettled”.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says heavy showers are still moving into the areas north of Taranaki and may be heavy enough to cause surface flooding. Conditions are likely to be more showery on Sunday for the North while colder air will spread over the South Island bringing a few light snow flurries to low levels.

Around 1700 lightning strikes have been detected around the New Zealand region today, mostly well offshore.

Snow in Queenstown this morning / Alison Metherell

What are conditions like where you are?  Post a comment below.