Just two days after a storm lasting nine days battered New Zealand yet another winter storm is on the way.  This time the South Island will take most of the impact with heavy rain along the West Coast, strong to gale force winds along the east coast and snow developing to low levels across Southland, Otago and maybe Canterbury.  “There’s another good chance snow or big hail storms will affect towns and cities from Invercargill right up to Kaikoura, including Dunedin and Christchurch” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

“The first frontal band should cross New Zealand during today followed by a strengthening westerly flow and several fronts delivering a gradual decrease in temperatures over the coming days.  More thunder and lightning are definitely on their way too”.

Duncan says by Thursday night the coldest air will move in to southern parts of the country with snow arriving in Queenstown.  “By the weekend it’ll be over Central Plateau with further road closures possible”.

Thunderstorms are also a possibility again along the nation’s west coast.  The Weather Watch Centre’s  lightning tracker has recorded 497 strikes in the past hour out to sea along the country’s west coast and heading our way.

Gale force winds are also expected to pound central parts of the country.  “More severe gales could be on the way with gusts exceeding 130km/h over the next few days.  It looks as though the next five days will be stormy and wintry again but sunny weather should return next week with a large high pressure system moving in”.