Low pressure is moving into NZ this weekend but before it arrives severe gale westerlies continue with thunderstorms off the Tasman Sea and a huge low pressure zone south of NZ near Antarctica is driving today’s wind and southern cold. Snow will also affect the South Island, mostly above 1000m but may go lower for a time in some areas – this may affect some alpine passes. Hail showers and squally downpours are also expected around the West Coast and Southland, and to a lesser degree parts of the western North Island.

The low moves in on Sunday and Monday bringing widespread rain and showers around the country, followed by a cooler change on Monday/Tuesday.

But next week we may get an even colder change coming thanks to a huge high pressure zone south of Australia.