A showery and blustery weekend, with the potential for heavy snow, is forecast as families hit the road for the start of the school holidays.
MetService said a series of cold fronts was set to sweep over New Zealand, bringing frosty, wet and windy conditions from today.
“There will be some wetter weather heading our way for the weekend – especially on Sunday,” MetService said, urging travellers to keep an eye on the forecast.
Showers over the southern South Island are set to spread north and linger in the west today and Saturday, before the main band of rain arrives with a front on Sunday.
Heavy snow is also possible above 600m in parts of Central Otago, Southern Lakes and the Canterbury High Country south of the Rangitata River on Sunday morning.
MetService meteorologist Samkelo Magwala said the fronts would move through quickly, limiting rainfall totals despite brief heavy rain in some places.
Meanwhile, meteorologist John Law told the Herald it wasn’t all bad news, with warmer weather and sunshine possible in parts of the country too.
Showery start
After a frosty start in parts of the North Island, Law said showers would push towards the western side of the country today.
“For the eastern side of the South Island, we are still going to find a few showers creeping across as we head through the day.”
Law said places such as Hawke’s Bay were set to be lucky with a “pretty decent” day and some spells of sunshine.
On Saturday, the wet weather was forecast to move up the country.
In the South Island, he said places from Fiordland to Buller would likely catch a few showers.
“On the North Island I think we’ll find it’s still a cloudier, showery story for places from say Northland all the way down that western coast through Waikato, Waitomo, Taranaki and even down towards Manawatū and the Kāpiti Coast,” Law said.
He said the further east you are, the drier and brighter it would likely be.
‘Active’ weather ramps up on Sunday
MetService said Sunday would be a more “active day” as a front shifted across the South Island.
Law said a change in wind direction would move up from the south, introducing wetter weather towards Southland and Otago and heavier rainfall for the West Coast.
Southwest gales are also possible in coastal Clutha, Christchurch and along the Kaikōura coast.
MetService said as the front moved up the country, northwesterly gales would blow through the Cook Strait and into Wairarapa and southern Hawke’s Bay.
Law also said the wet weather would move towards the North Island by the afternoon.
Auckland was expected to receive showers and spells of rain, with the heaviest on Sunday evening.
“The good news, the unsettled weather is short-lived due to a high-pressure system in the Tasman Sea, providing a settled start to the new working week,” MetService said.