Missiles fly as fun cold war breaks out

Most of the country can expect dreary winter weather this weekend, with those in the South potentially waking up to snow after severe overnight storms.

Forecaster MetService had earlier placed overnight severe wind and thunderstorm weather watches on much of the South Island and parts of the lower North Island.

That led the Department of Conservation to warn outdoor lovers to stay inside, especially those planning trips to the South Island’s big mountains.

“For the South Island, heavy rain, thunderstorms, snow and wind is forecast,” DoC tweeted.

“Coupled with cold temperatures, this will make for unsafe travel conditions, particularly in the back country and high elevations.”

The rain, storms and snow are blowing in from the Tasman Sea — having hit the West Coast yesterday — before pushing into the west and central parts of the North Island.

“From Taranaki to Wellington, heavy showers and thunderstorms are expected overnight into Saturday. It’s not looking like the best weekend to be outdoors,” DoC said yesterday.

Aucklanders will also need rain jackets this weekend, with heavy showers likely today and tomorrow. That may include thunderstorms this morning as the city eyes a high of 17C.

Whanga¯rei can expect bleak and rainy weekend weather, with highs of

19C today and 18C tomorrow. Thunderstorms are also possible in Hamilton as it heads for a high of

16C today and 15C tomorrow, while in Tauranga rain is also expected, though not as heavy.

Napier will be a bright spot with fine but gusty Saturday weather and a high of 19C, with tomorrow partly cloudy and a high of 18C.

Wellington can expect much worse. MetService has it under a severe thunderstorm watch until 6am today, and gales may hit 120km/h.

The stormy weather is expected to give way to a fine afternoon with a high of 14C, however, before possible thunderstorms return tomorrow for a top of 14C, MetService says.

Christchurch residents can expect a mainly fine day, heading to a top of

13C, before tomorrow has more rain and a top of 14C.

Queenstown — which had a severe thunderstorm and heavy snowfall watch yesterday — can expect more possible storms this morning and snow showers that should clear in the evening as the city reaches a top of 6C.

Rain and possible snow in the hills are expected tomorrow.

Across the South Island, snow could fall on high mountain pass roads during the weekend.

Photos / George Heard Time for a friendly snow brawl as winter’s first major storm hit Otago, with the white stuff causing trouble for motorists on the road between Wanaka and Queenstown.