Issued by The MetService

Monday
North Island, rain becoming widespread, but only a few late falls in Gisborne and Hawkes Bay. South Island, rain, possibly with heavy falls spreading to most places, but only patchy light rain or drizzle for Otago, Southland and Fiordland.

Tuesday
Rain or showers in most places, but only patchy light rain or drizzle for Otago, Southland and Fiordland

Wednesday
North Island, showers and fine spells in most places,but mainly fine from Gisborne to Wairarapa. South Island, rain or showers clearing from most places, but still some showers on the west coast, and late showers in Southland and Otago.

Thursday
North Island, mostly fine. South Island, A few showers in the west, turning to rain in Fiordland in the evening, showers in the south and a few showers spreading along the east coast. Fine elsewhere.

Friday
North Island, cloud increasing in the west, with some drizzle developing in the north and about Taranaki. Fine in the east. South Island, rain in the west with heavy falls developing, cloud increasing in the east and some rain developing.

Chatham Islands
Cloudy periods on Thursday with fresh northwesterlies turning southwest. A few showers on Friday with strong northerlies developing. Rain on Saturday with winds turning lighter easterly.

After a fairly settled Sunday, things will turn windy and rainy again to start off the upcoming week. Snow could even be an issue for the higher elevations of the South Island tomorrow morning.
 
A few showers may move across Northland early tomorrow morning. Otherwise, the western sections of the South Island will be the first to see precipitation tomorrow as it makes its way onshore during the pre-dawn hours. Just after sunrise, the precipitation should find its way into Canterbury and Marlborough. Snow is possible down to 600 metres in Canterbury, prompting Government forecaster MetService to issue a Road Snow warning for Porter’s Pass. 10 to 15cm of snow is possible during the morning hours tomorrow.
 
Precipitation will works its way across Southland and Otago during the mid to late morning hours. Snow is a threat in the higher elevations here as well. MetService has a Road Snow Warning in effect for Lindis Pass where 2 to 4cm of snow is expected by midday.
 
Precipitation will also move onto the North Island during the morning tomorrow. By midday, most the island will see some showers. Heavy rain is possible for Taranaki, Waikato and eastern Bay of Plenty/Northern Gisborne. The rest of Gisborne and Hawkes Bay could end up staying relatively dry tomorrow, although a few rogue showers certainly aren’t of the question.
 
Gusty northerlies can be expected to accompany the precipitation as the low moves in. Winds could approach severe gale strength about Taranaki, inland Wanganui and Taihape. MetService believes these areas may see winds that will meet warning criteria and will issue a warning if the situation warrants.
 
Homepage image/ Southerly approaching Wellington/Petone on 06 Oct 2012 by Blair Hinton
 

By WeatherWatch.co.nz Weather Analyst Howard Joseph
http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/...ys-unsettled-outlook

Today's weather will be what it will be but how is the rest of the week looking for New Zealand? A potential weather bomb in the mix later in the week and westerly influenced weather are a simple way to look at things. Lets investigate the potential day by day.
 
Wednesday
 

 
This Wednesday an area of low pressure currently lying over the South Island will weaken and move away to the southeast of the country, a moderate westerly airflow lies over New Zealand with a weak ridge slowly approaching from the west in the Tasman Sea. It will be mostly cloudy for western areas of the North Island with west to northwest winds, showers develop late morning then ease off in the afternoon for most however may linger on the west coast itself till evening. The east coast being sheltered by the ranges to the west will have dry and warmer weather.< Rain is likely to affect the West Coast of the South Island. The east coast north of about Ashburton and including Nelson looks like it will have mostly sunny weather with light winds, in South Canterbury and Otago expect a few areas of cloud and the chance of some showers in the afternoon as a southwesterly flick moves through. Expect cloudy areas in Southland with southwesterlies developing, it may remain dry till night however.
 
Thursday
 

 
Step forward to Thursday, the ridge in the Tasman will get closer and move over the North Island during the day so a mostly sunny day with light winds looks to be in store for the whole of the North Island. The ridge will provide nice and sunny weather for the South Island also bringing light winds, morning cloud and the odd drizzle patch about Southland and coastal Otago clears however. On the West Coast a northeasterly airflow will start to pick up with some increasing cloud in the afternoon, rain in Fiordland from evening.
 
Meanwhile the potential weather bomb scenario starts to develop in the Tasman Sea
 
Friday
 

 
Come Friday a north to northwesterly airflow will pick up across the country as this low pressure system deepens in the Tasman and quickly moves towards to the West Coast of the South Island. Cloud will increase across the North Island with showers developing in the west from evening. Rain with torrential falls is possible on the South Island’s West Coast later in the day with very strong northeasterly winds, rain is likely to move a fair way east of the main divide at night. The east coast itself will remain dry although plenty of thick high cloud is on order. Southwesterlies will start to develop in Southland and Otago later in the day bringing showers.
 
Hopefully the weather plays ball with your plans for the rest of this week. This weekend is looking very much like a southwesterly type of weekend then early next week a ridge finally may bring a setteled spell of weather.
 

WeatherWatch.co.nz
http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/...ther-coming-near-you

The low pressure system sitting just on the east coast of Australia right now is still on track to deliver some wild weather over the country this weekend.



WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters say heavy snow is now looking fairly likely about inland areas of the South Island from North Otago through to Marlborough particularly in the east and about the main divide, falling to 400m earlier on Saturday in southern regions of the risk area then lowering down to 500m later on Saturday about Marlborough. Snow could lower to 300m later on Saturday in southern regions of this heavy snow potential area however by then snow will be easing and clearing at night with heavy frosts by Sunday morning.

10 to 20cm of snow looks possible for North Otago and Canterbury above 400m, 20 to 50cm above 500m and 50 to 100cm above 800m. Marlborough could see 20 to 50cm above 1000m, 10 to 20cm above 600m and 5 to 10cm to 500m. 100cm of snow above 800m is unlikely and more of an outside chance but is conceivably possible. These estimates show the potential snow depths that may fall but either way you look at it WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters note that people in the high country of the South Island should be aware of this incoming system.

The West Coast of the South Island will likely receive very heavy rain from afternoon on Friday then clearing on Saturday afternoon or evening, north of Buller will escape the heaviest falls. In the west of the North Island a burst of heavy rain is possible on Saturday morning and around midday however the likely hood of rain causing issues is unlikely.

Some heavy rain is likely on the east coast of the South Island also from North Otago through to about Christchurch on Saturday, up to 50mm on the coast for the day with 80mm more likely further inland.

As for the winds, very strong southeasterly winds gusting to gale force are likely about the main divide from Fiordland through to areas south of Hokitika on Saturday from midday then easing at night. Taranaki will get very strong northerlies on Saturday gusting to gale force. Wellington will get strong to gale southerlies developing overnight on Saturday then on Sunday strong to gale northwesterlies north of Taranaki in the west will give way to strong southwesterlies in the morning.

The Central North Island will not miss out on snow, above 800m will get some snow on Sunday from this system, particularly about the ski fields which will be welcome.

Homepage image / 1pm rain map - weathermap.co.nz

 
WeatherWatch.co.nz
http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/...-high-country-coming