Weather News

More rain, gales, and snow on the way
Issued: 1:06pm Thu, 4 Aug
MetService is forecasting a front to move northeast over New Zealand during Friday and this weekend bringing heavy rain to the western South Island,and severe northwest gales to much of the South Island and lower North Island. This is followed by a significant cold outbreak spreading north over the country from Sunday, bringing southerly rain to the east of both Islands as well as snow to low levels for inland parts of the South Island ...

​

For Latest Weather Updates :

https://www.metservice.com/

 Or download the MetService mobile app

​

Short Forecast

Valid to Midnight Tuesday

Northland, Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula
Scattered showers, with possible thunderstorms in the west this afternoon.

Waikato to Kapiti Coast including Bay of Plenty and the Central High Country
Cloudy periods with scattered showers during the afternoon and evening today and tomorrow.

Gisborne and Hawke's Bay
Cloudy with isolated showers, turning to scattered rain from this afternoon.

Wellington and Wairarapa, also Marlborough
Rain, with snow above 400 metres in Marlborough, easing to showers tomorrow morning.

Buller, Westland and Nelson
Scattered rain, clearing in Westland this afternoon and elsewhere tomorrow morning.

Canterbury
Showers, falling as snow to low levels today and tomorrow morning, then showers becoming isolated tomorrow afternoon.

Otago, Fiordland and Southland
Fine in Fiordland and Southland. Scattered sleety showers in Otago, clearing tonight.

Chatham Islands
Occasional rain, heavier and persistent from tomorrow afternoon.

Wednesday
North Island : Rain in the east, south and north. Mainly fine elsewhere. South Island: A few showers for coastal Marlborough and Kaikoura, late rain in the deep south. Elsewhere, partly cloudy.

Thursday
North Island: Showers in the east, south and north. Mainly fine elsewhere. South Island: Showers east of the main divide, partly cloudy elsewhere.

Friday
North Island: A few showers in the east. Partly cloudy elsewhere. South Island: Mainly fine.

Chatham Islands
Rain and strong to gale southerlies, easing during Wednesday. Southerlies becoming strong again for a while on Thursday.

No Severe Thunderstorm Warnings in force.

Situation

Heavy snow for Canterbury and southern Marlborough. Severe south to southeast gales possible for parts of central New Zealand, and periods of heavy rain for the lower eastern North Island

A very cold south to southeast flow brings snow to low levels to many parts of the South Island. Heavy snow is expected to continue in inland Canterbury and southern Marlborough until this afternoon or early evening, where Heavy Snow Warnings remain in force.

Additionally, strong southeast winds continue to affect much of the South Island and Wellington, and Strong Wind Watches are in force for the West Coast, Marlborough and Wellington.

Also a strong and moist southeast flow affecting Wellington and Wairarapa is expected to bring further rain with some heavy falls to the eastern hills of Wellington and the hills and ranges of Wairarapa, where a Heavy Rain Watch remains in force.

People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case any changes are made.

Heavy Snow Warning - Orange

Impact: Heavy snow may disrupt travel in affected areas and could damage trees and powerlines. Cold conditions may cause stress for livestock.

Area: Marlborough south of Ward

Period: 8hrs from 10am - 6pm Mon, 8 Aug

Forecast: Expect a further 8 to 12 cm of snow on top of what has already fallen above 400 metres. Notes, lesser amounts of disruptive snow could affect areas down to 300 metres, but warning amounts are considered less likely, while below the snow level rain is likely to be heavy at times.

Area: Inland Canterbury above 300 metres.

Period: 5hrs from 10am - 3pm Mon, 8 Aug

Forecast: Expect a further 6 to 10 cm of snow on top of what has already fallen above 300 metres. Note, lesser amounts of disruptive snow could affect areas below 300 metres in Canterbury but warning amounts are considered unlikely there.

Heavy Rain Watch

Area: Eastern hills of Wellington and the hills and ranges of Wairarapa

Period: 21hrs from 10am Mon, 8 Aug - 7am Tue, 9 Aug

Forecast: Periods of rain, heavy at times. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria.

Strong Wind Watch

Area: Eastern Marlborough including the Sounds

Period: 17hrs from 10am Mon, 8 Aug - 3am Tue, 9 Aug

Forecast: South to southeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places. Note, south to southeast gales should ease south of Ward this afternoon, then between Ward and Picton this evening.

Area: Wellington

Period: 11hrs from 10am - 9pm Mon, 8 Aug

Forecast: South to southeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places at times.

Area: Westland and Buller from Westport southwards

Period: 5hrs from 10am - 3pm Mon, 8 Aug

Forecast: Southeast winds may approach severe gale in exposed places at times. Note, winds gradually ease from the south.

Road Snowfall Warning

​

Area: Lewis Pass (SH7)

Period: 26hrs from 10am Mon, 8 Aug - noon Tue, 9 Aug

Forecast: Periods of heavy snow. Expect a further 4 to 8 cm to accumulate on the road above about 400 metres, and lesser amounts lower down until midnight Monday. Another 1 to 3 cm of snow are possible above 400 metres during Tuesday morning.

Area: Arthur's Pass (SH73)

Period: 23hrs from 11am Mon, 8 Aug - 10am Tue, 9 Aug

Forecast: Periods of heavy snow. Expect a further 5 to 8 cm to accumulate on the road above 500 metres, and lesser amounts lower down.

Area: Porters Pass (SH73)

Period: 25hrs from 10am Mon, 8 Aug - 11am Tue, 9 Aug

Forecast: Periods of heavy snow. Expect a further 10 to 15 cm of snow to accumulate on the road above 600 metres, with lesser amounts to low levels.

Area: Lindis Pass (SH8)

Period: 24hrs from 10am Mon, 8 Aug - 10am Tue, 9 Aug

Forecast: Periods of snow. Expect a further 1 to 3 cm of snow to accumulate on the road above 600 metres, and lesser amounts lower down.

For more about Road Snowfall Warnings click here

Normal Cyclone Season Is Finished