Weather in New Zealand 2026

[JennyLeez]

Cold snap to send temperatures plunging across New Zealand this week 3rd August to 6th

A frigid southerly outbreak is set to send temperatures plunging across the country early this week.

Hamilton and Taupō are forecast to record overnight lows about 8C below average for this time of year, while frosts could reach as far north as Northland.

The change follows a bitter weekend that saw flights cancelled, highways closed and cars stuck in the snow.

MetService meteorologist Michael Pawley told the Herald the wintry blast would spread up the South Island today before reaching the North Island overnight.

“As the winds turn southerly, it’s dragging air all the way up from the Southern Ocean, straight out of the coldest part of the world,” he said.

While several North Island locations recorded their lowest temperatures of the year last week, Pawley said the incoming chill was notable even by midwinter standards.

Hamilton is forecast to fall to -4C on Tuesday and again on Wednesday, compared with an average minimum of 4.7C for this time of year.

Napier could reach -3C, with Dannevirke, Masterton and Levin falling to -4C and Whanganui to -2C.

Levin’s forecast low is almost 10C below its early-August average minimum of 5.6C.

“There’s a chance of frosts for even as far north as Northland on Tuesday through to Wednesday. So yeah, it’s looking to be pretty cold,” Pawley said.

• Tweet

[JennyLeez]

Update at 1pm. Addition of the Wairarapa south coast for low risk of thunderstorms.

A trough bringing showers to Northland moves northward this afternoon. There is an associated low risk of thunderstorms with hail in the north and west of Northland, as indicated on the chart.

Meanwhile, a cold and showery south to southwest flow covers the remainder of the country. Wintry showers with hail, and a low risk of thunderstorms, south Wairarapa this afternoon which spreads slowly north over coastal areas to reach Mahia Peninsula and places near the coast of Gisborne/Tairawhiti in the evening, as depicted on the chart.

Lastly, a strong and cold southwesterly flow continues to bring wintry showers with hail to the Chatham Islands, along with a moderate risk of thunderstorms.

There is minimal risk of thunderstorms or significant convection elsewhere in New Zealand during this period.

[Mark]

We had snow here in Christchurch, but not much was on the ground.
The warmest temp for the day was recorded at 12:55 a.m.: 5.6 °C, but in the daylight hours it didn't get above 3.2 °C.

[JennyLeez]

The snow has eased across much of the country, but a bitter cold snap has settled in, with widespread frosts and icy conditions greeting many New Zealanders this morning.
Snow is forecast above 300 metres from Taranaki to Wellington, while from Gisborne to Wairarapa snow is expected to 200 metres in the morning.
Twizel was the country’s coldest spot at -8.9C at 5.50am on Wednesday, while New Plymouth was the warmest at just 8.1C.

The MetService “felt like” temperatures were lower - Mt Cook was sitting on -8.3C shortly after 6.20am but it would feel like -14C. Twizel’s -8C “felt like” -12C. Wellington, at 4.6C felt like -1C.

Wellington had its first snowfall since 2011 on Tuesday after a flurry hit the capital with more possible this morning.

Live from Stuff.co.nz:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/361015235/live-nz-weather-snow

[JennyLeez]

The polar southerly flow covers NZ to kick off this week but a huge high pressure zone leaving Tasmania will end up over northern NZ by later this week and that placement, along with the size and shape of the high, will encourage a windier westerly flow late week and going into the weekend over most of the country.

For some places, like eastern NZ, that means a lift in temperatures this week and drier skies. Some regions may feel spring-like late this week or this coming weekend. We’re not finished with winter though, there are still polar airflows in the longer range maps.

Frosts return for both main islands this week, although not everyone will have them due to the wind still blowing here and there.

Extended Forecast:

Wednesday
North Island: Mainly fine from north Taranaki to Bay of Plenty northwards. Scattered showers elsewhere, gradually easing. South Island: Isolated showers in the south and east. Fine elsewhere.

Thursday
North Island: Mainly fine. Isolated morning showers in the east. Isolated afternoon showers from Waitomo to Kapiti. South Island: Fine, apart from isolated showers in the south and west.

Friday
North Island: Fine, apart from isolated showers in the west. South Island: Rain developing in Fiordland and southern Westland, also scattered falls in Southland and Otago later. Mainly fine elsewhere.

Source: weatherwatch.co.nz