New Zealanders are in for a chilly start to the week, with snow, showers and gusty winds sweeping across the country before things begin to settle down later in the week.
Snow was forecast to fall as low as 200 metres in the south and 600 metres in the north today, dropping to 200 metres across many areas on Tuesday.
In the North Island, a narrow band of rain was moving west to east today, followed by showery conditions. Western regions including Auckland, Taranaki, Waikato, and Northland faced a prospect of thunderstorms and hail tonight and Tuesday, with gusts of 80–100km/h possible.
“This is the kind of situation where localised gusty winds thrive, so it’s a good idea to secure outdoor objects,” MetService meterologist Katie Hillyer said.
The cold southerly air would reach Wellington on Monday night and continue north, bringing snow to 500–700 metres and prompting a road snowfall warning for the Desert Road on Tuesday afternoon and evening.
In the South Island, MetService issued road snowfall warnings for Milford and Crown Range roads, the Dunedin to Waitati Highway, and Lindis, Porters, Lewis, and Arthur’s Passes.
Travellers were advised to stay up to date with the latest advice from NZTA on road conditions and possible closures.
Winds in the South Island were forecast to shift to a cold and blustery southerly on Monday night.
Hillyer said this meant sheltered western regions would be fine but eastern regions would be exposed to the showers and cloud.
“People will feel those temperatures drop today, with maximums today and tomorrow staying in the single digits in for many. A rough start for the little lambs.”
With clearer skies on the way, slightly warmer afternoons but also colder mornings would be possible.
