A very cold, windy week ahead with snow featuring

The transition from winter to Spring can often bring turbulent weather. Seas are still relatively cold around Aotearoa, but as the subtropics start heating up quickly and temperatures remain cold to the south us, the thermal contrast can result in strong Spring winds. We can also still experience very cold outbreaks, as southerly changes push up the country from the Southern Ocean. MetService is currently focusing on one of those cold outbreaks as a trough and associated low pressure centres over the South Island becomes the dominant weather feature during the next few days.

MetService meteorologist Andy Best commented that “The trough moves over central New Zealand by midday Monday, then over the upper North Island Mondayevening. Strong, cold southerly winds will follow in the wake of the trough.” He went on to say that “The cold air will spread over the east of the South Island tonight andMonday, and in conjunction with moist air, the system is expected bring snow to Southland, parts of Fiordland, Otago Canterbury and Marlborough”. There are currently Severe Weather Watches in force for Heavy Rain, Strong Winds and for Heavy Snow. Some of the watches could possibly approach warning criteria. MetService has also issued an update to Road Snowfall Warnings.

The low pressure system moves east of the North Island from late Monday, spreading strong, cold south to southeast winds over places south of about Auckland. Many North Island places are expected to see daytime temperature struggle to reach the low teen’s, with 10 degrees the maximum in Wellington fromTuesday to Thursday and 13 degrees for Napier. People should layer up clothing-wise and be prepared for deteriorating weather conditions. Your first port of call should always be metservice.com for the very latest weather, warnings and watches on this event.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday see a ridge of high pressure build across the South Island from the Tasman Sea, bringing settled but cold weather for much of the island, with light winds and overnight frosts. For example, Alexandra can expect zero degrees early Wednesday and Thursday and -2C around dawn Friday.

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