Cold southwesterlies develop about Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty this morning with showers possibly heavy with some small hail. Sunny breaks at times during the day. Showers clear about the Bay of Plenty in the afternoon however clearing elsewhere at night. Southwesterlies possibly gale force about exposed areas of Auckland this afternoon.
Showers about the Central North Island and Taranaki with some small hail, sunny spells too. Winds breezy from the west. Areas of precipitation clearing at night as winds change more southerly. Snow flurries to 800m from afternoon lowering to 400m at night before clearing.
Sunny weather on the east coast of the North Island with gusty westerlies, winds change strong southwesterly late afternoon or evening with showers possibly heavy and thundery with hail for a time. Snow flurries to 800m lower to 400m overnight.
Gusty westerlies about the lower North Island especially in Wellington with sunny skies, winds change strong cold southwest in the afternoon with showers possibly heavy and thundery with hail. Snow to 700m in the ranges lowers to 200m at night, a few flurries may possibly make it into the capital overnight.
Nelson and Marlborough can expect sunny weather this morning with westerly winds, southwesterlies freshen late afternoon with showers possibly heavy and thundery with hail then clearing later in the evening. Some snow to 600m lowering to 300m before clearing.
About the Kaikoura Coast and ranges, sunny areas this morning with westerly winds. Cold southwesterlies develop by midday with showers, and a risk of thunder and hail. Snow flurries to 600m lower to sea level later in the evening then easing becoming infrequent falls now and then.
In Mid and North Canterbury expect sunny areas in the morning with westerly winds, strong cold southwesterlies develop around late morning or midday with a chance of thunder and hail. Snow to 500m lowers to sea level during the evening, snow clearing away from inland areas at night.
In South Canterbury, sunny areas in the morning with breezy westerlies. By late morning cold southwesterlies develop with some cloud and the odd shower which clears later at night, inland areas may remain mostly dry for the day. A few snow flurries to 400m in the afternoon lower to sea level in the evening then clearing at night also. Frosty inland at night with southwesterlies dying out.
In Fiordland and South Westland expect the odd wintry shower and snow flurry to 300m clearing in the evening, fresh cold southwesterlies. Showers at times further north along the West Coast clearing in the evening, some snow to 500m.
About Southland, expect cold southwesterly winds, snow flurries developing to sea level during the morning and clearing later in the evening. Snow showers about Central Otago clear in the evening also, very cold at night with severe frosts developing. Strong bitterly cold southwesterly winds about the Otago coast, wintry showers and areas of snow clearing at night. Snow to 300m in the morning lowering to sea level by late morning or around midday.
Accumulations of snow to expect through today and overnight tonight for this event:
Southland and Central Otago, 5 to 10 cm of snow.
Fiordland and South Westland, 3 to 5cm down to 300m. North Westland, 3 to 5cm down to 500m
Coastal Otago, 10 to 15cm down to 300m, 4 to 8cm to sea level
South Canterbury, 2 to 3cm down to 400m, a centimetre or two possible to sea level in the evening however snow settling may not eventuate.
Mid and North Canterbury, 5 to 10cm down to 500m in inland areas, 10 to 15cm down to 300m on Banks Peninsula. 3 to 5cm possible down to sea level everywhere else.
Kaikoura Coast, 5 to 10cm down to 600m, 1 or 2cm to sea level however flurries may not settle.
Nelson ranges and Marlborough, 3 to 5cm possible down to 600m, 1 to 3cm down to 300m.
Wellington and Wairarapa, 3 to 5cm to 700m, 1 to 2cm down to 200m
Hawkes Bay and Gisborne ranges, 2 to 3cm down to 800m, perhaps a centimetre down to 400m and snow may not settle at that height as it isn’t really enough to get accumulations going.
Taranaki and Central North Island, 5 to 10cm down to 800m, 1 perhaps 2cm down to 400m before clearing in the evening.
Further information:Severe frosts in Central Otago on Tuesday night getting down to –8 or –9 degrees, black ice on the roads for Wednesday morning.
Temperatures for today: Southland, 6 degrees. Central Otago, 4 degrees. Coastal Otago, 6 degrees. Christchurch and West Coast 9 to 10 degrees. Nelson, Marlborough, Wellington, Taranaki and the Central North Island 12 to 13 degrees. 15 degrees about Hawkes Bay, Gisborne. 13 to 15 degrees for the upper North Island.
-Weatherwatch.co.nz
http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/tuesday%E2%80%99s-national-forecast-9
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December 18, 2012, 09:58:25 PM