First Snowfall Warnings of 2018 Continued

A complex low pressure system is set to cross central New Zealand during this evening, and behind it persistent heavy rain/snow and severe gales are expected to ease by the early hours of Wednesday morning.

However, as the low moves away to the east during Wednesday morning low level snow and heavy showers with possible isolated thunderstorms remain over parts of the North Island and northwest South Island.

Rain is forecast to turn to snow above 700 meters over the North Island overnight tonightwith the Desert Road and Napier Taupo Road looking to be affected by snow for a time overnight and early Wednesday morning.

Snow showers are also expected to continue above 500 meters for eastern regions of the South Island tonight and early Wednesday morining, however accumulations are not expected to be more than a few centimetres. Snow showers are expected to ease then clear from the south during Wednesday morning and rise to above 800 meters in the north by evening.

Cold overnight temperatures along with slick roads from recent rain could cause icy conditions on some roads over the South Island. Inland roads relatively sheltered from wind and nearing zero degrees will be most susceptible to ice formation tonight and into Wednesdaymorning.

A risk of thunderstorms and hail has been issued for the eastern coast of the South Island and North Island during Wednesday. This could mean brief surface flooding and poor visibly in heavy rain for any roads under risk.

This will be the last Road Advisory for this weather system.

HEAVY SNOW WATCH: possibility of Snow accumulations exceeding 10cm in 6 hours or equivalent

Central Plateau, including Tongariro National Park and the Kaimanawa Ranges
• Rain is expected to turn to snow above 700 metres about the central North Island high country tonight (Tuesday), then ease Wednesday morning.
• Snow accumulations could approach warning amounts above 800 metres.
HEAVY RAIN WARNING: Rain accumulation of 100 mm in 24 hours or equivalent

Taranaki and Whanganui
• Rain with heavy falls at times, especially about Whanganui and southern parts of Taranaki.
• Expect rainfall accumulations of 80 to 120mm,possibly more especially on Mt Taranaki. Peak intensities of 15 to 25mm/hr.
Taihape
• Rain with heavy falls and isolated thunderstorms are expected until around midnighttonight.
• Expect 80 to 100mm of rain to accumulate during this time, with peak intensities of 15 to 25mm/hr.
HEAVY RAIN WATCH: possibility for 100 mm accumulation in 24 hours or equivalent

Eastern Bay of Plenty Ranges
• 10 hours from 3:00 pm Tuesday to 1:00 am Wednesday
Waitomo and Taumarunui
• 10 hours from 3:00 pm Tuesday to 1:00 am Wednesday
Manawatu, Kapiti-Horowhenua, Wellington and Wairarapa
• 6 hours from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm Tuesday
SEVERE WIND WARNING: winds reaching severe gale or gusting above 110km/h

Waikato, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula
• Severe gale west to southwest winds, gusting 120km/h, expected for a time this (Tuesday) evening.
Taranaki, Kapiti Coast, Wellington, Horowhenua, and the Marlborough Sounds
• Severe gale southerlies gusting 120km/h in exposed places until around midnighttonight.
SEVERE WIND WATCH: winds possibly reaching severe gale or gusting above 100km/h

Northland
• Strong to gale southwesterlies, may may reach severe gale for a time this (Tuesday) evening, especially about and south of Dargaville.
Bay of Plenty, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Taupo and the central high country
• Southerlies could reach severe gale in exposed places from this (Tuesday) evening until early Wednesday morning.
Gisborne coast
• Southwesterlies may reach severe gale in exposed coastal places for a time early Wednesday morning.
Hawkes Bay coast
• Strong southwesterlies may become severe in exposed coastal places for a time this (Tuesday) evening until early Wednesday morning.
Wairarapa
• Southerlies could rise to severe gale for a time this (Tuesday) afternoon and evening
ROAD SNOWFALL WARNINGS

NAPIER-TAUPO ROAD
• Rain may turn to snow in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
• From around midnight tonight until 6am Wednesday, 1 to 2cm of snow may settle near the summit of the road.
DESERT ROAD
• Rain is expected to turn to snow this evening, easing to showers Wednesday morning.
• From about 9pm Tuesday to 9am Wednesday expect 10 to 15cm to accumulate about the summit, with lesser amounts to 700 metres.
LEWIS PASS
• Snow easing to snow showers this afternoon, however, snow showers likely to persist about the summit until Wednesday evening.
• From 2pm today (Tuesday) through to midnight Wednesday, a further 2 to 5cm of snow may accumulate near the summit with lesser amounts down to 500 metres.
ARTHURS PASS
• Snow should ease early this evening, although further flurries are likely during
• Wednesday morning. From 2pm through to 8pm this evening (Tuesday), a further 1
• to 2cm of snow may accumulate near the summit with lesser amounts down to 500
• metres. From 7am to midday Wednesday another 1 to 2cm is possible near the
• summit.
PORTERS PASS
• Periods of snow are expected until midday Wednesday.
• From 2pm Tuesday through to midday Wednesday, expect a further 10 to 20cm of snow to accumlate near the summit with lesser amounts down to 400 metres.
LINDIS PASS
• Snow showers are expected to return this evening, then ease Wednesday morning.
• From 8pm this evening to 9am Wednesday 1 to 2cm may accumulate above 700 metres.
HAAST PASS
• Snow showers are possible from this evening until around dawn Wednesday.
• From 6pm today until 6am Wednesday,1 to 2cm to accumulate near the summit.
CROWN RANGE ROAD
• Snow showers from 3pm through to midnight tonight
• Expect 1 to 3cm about the summit
MILFORD ROAD
• Snow showers should ease early Wednesday morning
• 2 to 5cm of snow may settle on the road above 400 metres.

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