A northerly airflow gradually builds over New Zealand today while a large low forms in the Tasman Sea. A front moves in from the west on Thursday with a strong north to northeasterly airflow preceding it. A deep low moves onto the South Island on Friday bringing very strong winds around it and some heavy rain, especially about the eastern South Island.

Wednesday

Blue – A frosty start about a thinner slice of the inner South Island, no major frosts.

Purple – As a northerly quarter airflow increases over New Zealand during the day northwesterly winds becoming gusty through Cook Strait and northeasterlies strong about coastal Fiordland from afternoon.

Thursday

Blue – A deep low forms moving into position west of the South Island on Thursday. Hooked into this low is a front which moves in from the west delivering heavy rain about the upper North Island and Nelson / Tasman in the evening then easing overnight. Rain about Fiordland may be heavy then easing from afternoon.

Purple – North to northeasterly winds preceding this front are quite strong with gales likely about coastal areas especially about northeastern parts of the North Island.

Friday

This low deepens further and sits over the upper South Island on Friday, winds around the low are gusty and strong, more so about the eastern South Island south of Banks Peninsula where severe gales may develop about the coast. Expect some heavy rain also about the eastern South Island Banks Peninsula southwards.

Snow keeps above 800m for the South Island, lowering to 500m in the evening about Southland. Snow lowering to 500m overnight about Mid and South Canterbury also.

– Please note, the idea behind this update is to focus on the main weather highlights, which is why not all regions are mentioned. 

For specific 10 day information for your city, town, rural community or island please see the 1500 forecasts on our homepage!

– Aaron Wilkinson, WeatherWatch.co.nz