A large low to the north and another to the south east of New Zealand are both contributing to more wet weather for New Zealand today, especially coastal areas, with cold air in the South Island’s east turning rain showers to snow flurries again predicts WeatherWatch.co.nz.

The weather news authority says snow showers will again fall around Canterbury to just a few hundred metres with the snow level rising to 400 metres today.

WeatherWatch.co.nz describes the current weather as being like the “depths of winter” despite the coldest weather usually not until July and August.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says the current very cold spell across many parts of the country is already showing signs of easing.  “It’s certainly been a much colder start to winter than 2011 and as we predicted back in March it’s partially due to intense highs stretching from north to south and dredging up cold air from near Antarctica”.

“However computer guidance strongly supports the end of the southerly flow over the next day or so”.

The current wind flow today will again push cold winds right into Canterbury and the lower North Island.

Christchurch is predicted to only reach 8 degrees today along with Wellington as the showery southerly continues.

In Auckland shower clouds will start to develop on both sides of the city with a 50 to 60% chance of showers in the afternoon and early evening before clearing for the weekend.

“The weather we’re seeing in some parts of New Zealand is more typical of mid to late July and early August” says Mr Duncan.  “The shortest day of the year is still a week away and much like turning the air-con on in the car it takes a while to cool down – in weather terms that’s usually the 4 to 8 weeks following the shortest day of the year”.

Mr Duncan says the cold weather over the past two weeks is a bit like having summer’s heat in early December instead of February.

“A cold start to winter doesn’t mean it will continue this way and already the long range models show a shift away from southerlies to more westerlies and easterlies for next week”.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says July may actually start off milder than June did due to June kicking off with temperatures well below average.

For Friday showers will continue to move around mostly coastal parts of the North Island, including a risk of showers for northern New Zealand.  Showers will also continue to affect eastern parts of the South Island but the general trend is for long dry spells to move in. 

The weather over the weekend should continue to improve ahead of the next Tasman Sea front which is expected late Sunday or Monday.

– Homepage image / brad.net.nz

– WeatherWatch.co.nz