The winds will strengthen for many regions today, more squally showers are predicted and snow will continue to fall to very low levels as a moderate winter storm continues to affect New Zealand.

WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters say winds will actually build for the South Island today and into Thursday with a chance of severe gales in areas that missed them on Tuesday.

“The low is changing shape, starting to lose that perfectly circular shape and that basically means the strong winds that were once near the centre will ease a little but stretch over a much greater space” says head weather analyst Philip Duncan.

Map – the purple indicates where the hurricane force/severe gale winds lie, again it’s borderline for the lower South Island.  This image is for midnight Wednesday / www.Weathermap.co.nz

“There are a couple things going on here, firstly the deep low to the south of New Zealand and secondly the large high over Australia – both are contributing to the blustery conditions”.

Mr Duncan says while it will be windy in many regions across Wednesday the winds are likely to strengthen significantly around coastal parts of southern New Zealand, mainly around the Catlins and coastal Otago.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says strong winds may also push into Canterbury, especially Banks Peninsula, but Wellington may well remain quite sheltered relatively speaking. 

Winds will continue to blow into Wellington from the west or north west then swings southerly on Thursday.  Despite the nor’wester it’s not likely to be warm with a high of just 11 degrees for Wednesday,

Meanwhile more snow is in the forecast for today in the lower South Island and right along the Southern Alps.  Snow is also predicted by WeatherWatch.co.nz for the Desert road across Wednesday as well.

– Image, snow in Invercargill yesterday / Fleur Moffett

– WeatherWatch.co.nz

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