Stormy couple of days ahead for some
A front moving northeast over the South Island is expected to bring some heavy rain, gales and snow to lowish levels during the next couple of days, but chances are good that the stormy interlude will be followed by a spell of settled weather.
MetService is forecasting some chilly nights, but skies are likely to be cloudy enough to keep overnight temperatures above 0C for most areas.
The rain was to start in Otago and Southland yesterday evening, and spread into more northern parts of the South Island and much of the North Island today.
Auckland is forecast to have some rain this evening, with just a chance of isolated showers tomorrow. Highs between 17C and 19C are forecast for the next week or so, with lows from 10C to 12C.
Wellington has a chance of some heavy rain this afternoon and into the night, followed by a mostly dry week.
Rain is forecast to develop towards midday today in Christchurch, and could be heavy. A dry week is forecast to follow. The lowest expected temperature is 2C early Saturday.
Along with a chance of some heavy rain in Fiordland and the ranges of southern Westland, MetService says the front could mean heavy rain in the northeast of the South Island overnight today. Southerly gales are also possible in coastal areas of Kaikōura and Marlborough south of Cape Campbell.
Some snow could fall overnight today below 900m on Lewis Pass and Arthur’s Pass, and possible slightly lower on Porters Pass, MetService said.
The wind warning was for just a “sliver” of coast, MetService meteorologist John Law said.
The wind would be coming into the northeast of the South Island from a southsoutheast direction.
“So you get the onshore feed of air pushing on to the ranges.”
It was possible the snow in that area could get a bit lower than the 900m being forecast, Law said.
Snow needed moisture and cold temperatures, but the coldest temperatures in the weather system moving through in the next day or so were expected to be behind the area of wet weather.
“But if the cold air comes in while you still have the moisture, you could get snow dropping perhaps another 100m.” The heavier snow was expected above 1000m.
While the air would be cold further south, it wouldn’t have the moisture in it that the air over the northeast South Island was expected to have.