Chilly blast for second week of holidays

Another round of cold blustery winds is set to sweep in to take some of the sparkle out of the weekend.

Rough weather is also expected to mar at least part of the second week of the school holidays.

More spring snow is expected down to low levels, with MetService forecasting snow to 300 metres in inland Southland and the west of the Clutha district, and to 500m in Dunedin, Central Otago and North Otago today.

It’s expected to fall to 600m in Canterbury, including around Christchurch. In the North Island snow could lower to 800m in the south late today.

Christchurch, which dropped to about -1 degree Celsius early yesterday, is expected to have rain with a southwest change today, dropping to freezing overnight.

Wellington is forecast to start today with strong northerlies, with rain from midday and a strong southerly change kicking in during the afternoon. For now, tomorrow is forecast to be sunny and the southerlies should die out, although the maximum temperature is expected to be just 12C.

MetService said there’s a chance the snow in inland Southland and western Clutha could be heavy above 500m early today. Also early today, Northwest winds could rise to severe gale strength in exposed parts of the Canterbury high country.

Rainfall is expected to be heavy in the Westland ranges south of Otira and Fiordland today, and in the Kahurangi National Park and Tararua Range.

Napier was forecast to get to 23C today. Changeable weather was expected to continue next week, so people planning outdoor activities during the school holidays should keep an eye out for their fine weather window.