Stay rugged up — here comes the wind, rain
Wild weather across the country is bringing gales, heavy falls, and snow this weekend.
MetService has issued severe weather warnings for gales and heavy rain in parts of the North Island and for snow in the South Island.
Yesterday, strong winds brought down a large pohutukawa tree at Paraparaumu on the Kapiti Coast.
MetService meteorologist Derek Holland said there was the possibility of thunder, but also snow in the central North Island.
Taihape, Hawke’s Bay and Lake Taupo could have snow as low as 700 metres.
The cold snap hit Dunedin around midday yesterday and slowly moved up the country, passing through Christchurch at around 5pm.
The central North Island would continue to get gusty winds. Thunderstorms are expected to move across Whanganui to Kapiti, possibly reaching Wellington.
Thunderstorms and heavy rain will extend from Nelson down the West Coast of the South Island.
Mountain passes will be dangerous around the Southern Alps as more snow falls.
The snow level is down to 200m in the lower South Island.
Today, the weather will turn fine in most parts of the country by the afternoon.
The cold front will bring westerly gales to parts of the North Island. Central Hawke’s Bay and the Tararua District will get gusts up to 130kmh in the evening.
Tararua Range is also set to get heavy rain.
MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said it was the first time MetService had issued a generic snow warning for 2016. Heavy snow is forecast for Fiordland and Southland.