Another 'significant' dumping of snow forecast - where it could hit
Don’t pack your winter duvets away just yet: a settled start to the new week is forecast to give way to “significant” snow in some parts of the country by late Wednesday.
A front dragging a mass of cold air is expected to arrive in the south of the country on Wednesday evening, bringing snow for some and rain for others, MetService meteorologist Ethan Walton-Jones said.
Significant snow was possible in the South Island high country, and may also affect “higher roads”, according to the national weather service’s long-range forecast.
Parts of Canterbury, Otago and Southland could be affected, Walton-Jones said.
“It’s still got a few days to change, but at this stage it does look like there’s definitely potential for that front to bring some snow.”
For others, the front meant rain, he said.
“Most of the country towards the end of the week will get a period of rain as that [front] spreads north … towards Thursday night it comes through Wellington, [and] Auckland might see it Friday.”
MetService's 5-day rain radar shows a forecast front over parts of the South Island at midnight on Thursday. Significant snow is possible to high country parts of the South Island, with rain elsewhere, from late Wednesday night. Image / MetService
However, most Kiwis would be enjoying sunshine and settled weather over the weekend and into the start of the working week.
A large, long-period swell is expected around the country today, especially along the southern coast of the South Island and around the Chatham Islands, MetService wrote on X.
“This is expected to ease over the next few days.”
A few showers in parts of Southland are expected to become more persistent as a cold front pushes onto the South Island tonight, but the rest of the day would be “pretty nice for most of the country”, Walton-Jones said.
“Tomorrow that front moves mostly offshore, so those showers in southern areas ease off in the morning, while most of the rest of the country stays pretty fine.”
A few showers may affect parts of the South Island West Coast, and western coasts of Auckland and Northland tomorrow, he said.
Temperatures tomorrow would be “pretty much as expected” for the time of year, with highs of 17C in Auckland, Hamilton and Palmerston North, 19C in Tauranga and Napier, 15C in Wellington and Christchurch, and 14C in Dunedin – where strong southwesterlies are expected to ease in the morning.
It should be a nice day for outdoor activities across most of the country tomorrow. Photo / Alex Burton
The settled weather would continue for most through the first few days of the week.
“It looks a pretty nice start to the working week other than along the West Coast of the South Island.
“The rain will start a bit earlier there, ahead of the front … it looks like Tuesday evening that rain starts to spread up the West Coast.”
Cherie Howie is an Auckland-based reporter who joined the Herald in 2011. She has been a journalist for more than 20 years and specialises in general news and features.
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