UPDATED: Here’s your extensive forecast for South Island regions over the next 24 hours as a wintry snap moves through.

Southland

Strong cold southwesterlies gusting to gale force are set to bring wintry showers, (some heavy) with occasional hail and sleet – as well as the chance of thunderstorms. Snow to near sea level this morning although some areas like Invercargill may be hard pressed to see any snow.

Snow flurries are likely to low levels (100-200m) at times this afternoon, while showers are less frequent and less intense. Snow lifts to about 300m this evening.

Central Otago

It’s looking like wintry showers for this morning with possible hail, then clearing this afternoon. Winds gusty and cold from the southwest. Expect snow to low levels.

Coastal Otago

Strong southwesterly winds today with gales near the coast, possibly severe out on Otago Peninsula.

Snow to low levels. In the afternoon all forms of precipitation gradually ease with the snow level lifting to about 300m by evening.

As with all regions, hillsides exposed to the southwest flow may lift snow rates compared to other places a little.

Canterbury

About Canterbury the main focus today will be near the coast, especially about Banks Peninsula – strong southwesterlies gale force at times and even severe gales are possible today.
Expect wintry showers, heavy at times with hail. Thunderstorms may even surface during the day then easing away this afternoon.

Snow looks likely to low levels, before lifting 50 to 100m on average by evening, and again by Tuesday morning. Showers continue on outer parts of Banks Peninsula right through till Wednesday with the snow level gradually lifting to 500m before clearing.

Many parts of Canterbury even inland could see a few wintry showers push through this morning with a few snow flurries to low levels before clearing this afternoon, this is due to a trough generated by very cold air moving over Canterbury around this time. In all likely hood any snow that falls should’nt cause too many if any issues but could add an interesting spectacle to the morning.

Central North Island

Expect a few snow flurries to fall during the day today, starting out at around 500m this morning, it may lower to 400m for a time this afternoon before lifting up again to 500m by evening. Any snow amounts are not expected to be large but 3 to 5cm down to 500m, 1 to 3cm down to 400m does look possible. Mountain slopes more exposed to the SW flow could see slightly higher accumulations. A tough passing through late afternoon / evening could bring some heavier precipitation for a time.

– Aaron Wilkinson & Drew Chappell, WeatherWatch.co.nz

– Photo: Mike Stead