Cold southerlies start moving onto the South Island today with rain, snow lowering to low levels in the far south (200m or lower) later in the day. The North Island stays in a similar pattern as it was yesterday with showers moving in from the west, mainly afternoon where one or could be heavy.

Northland, Auckland & Waikato
Cloudy periods with showers at times especially afternoon onwards where one or two could then be heavy, northwesterlies become a little breezy after midday mainly about western coastal areas. Winds change more of a gusty westerly overnight.
Highs: 14-16

Central North Island, Bay Of Plenty
Cloudy periods with the odd shower at times, mainly afternoon and evening where one or two could be heavy. There could be a few sunny spells about too especially morning. Expect north to northwest breezes.
Highs: 12-16

Eastern North Island
A period of morning rain clears, mainly about Hawkes Bay and Gisborne then becoming mostly sunny with light winds. Some rain moves into southern parts of the Wairarapa in the afternoon with southerlies.
High: 16-18

Western North Island
Areas of cloud and a few sunny spells in the morning with light northerlies, chance of a shower too but mainly for northern Taranaki. Some rain develops during the afternoon.
Highs: 13-15

Wellington
Cloudy skies with northerlies in the morning, perhaps a brief shower or two otherwise mainly dry weather. Southerlies develop by midday with some rain moving in.
High: 13

Marlborough & Nelson
Mostly cloudy skies, the odd shower turns to rain in the afternoon. Light winds tend southerly about Marlborough.
High: 13-14

Canterbury
Periods of rain developing in the morning with southerly winds gradually picking up during the day. Snow lowers to 300m about South Canterbury at night, with heavy snow then likely above this level, below this level expect heavy rain. Further north (north of Banks Peninsula) expect snow to 600m at night.
Highs: 8-9

West Coast
Periods of rain with easterly winds, rain eases off later in the evening as winds tend more southeast.
Highs: 12-13

Coastal Otago
Mostly cloudy with showers and cold southerly winds, there may be the odd dry break now and then. Rain from afternoon becomes heavy in the evening. Snow to 800m around dawn, then gradually lowering to low levels by evening. Snow above 200m in the evening could be heavy.
High: 8

Central Otago
Cloudy with the chance of the odd shower, rain develops late morning with snow to 700m which lowers to low levels by evening. Heavy snow should be expected. Bitterly cold southerly winds.
Highs: 4-5

Southland
Rain with cold southerlies, snow to 600m around dawn lowering to low levels late afternoon. Snow to sea level is looking more likely from later in the evening or overnight. Snow falls inland will likely be heavy from afternoon. Bitterly cold temperatures later in the day.
High: 6

WeatherWatch.co.nz

Its going to get cold

9.00am
Rain is expected to turn to snow above about 200 metres in the south tonight, then further north to Marlborough during Thursday morning. Significant accumulations are expected until Friday night. In addition, areas at lower levels are expected to receive a significant amount of rain during the period.In the 36 hours from midnight tonight (Wednesday) south of Arthurs Pass, but from 6am Thursday north of Arthurs Pass, expect 30 to 60cm above 300 metres, but 100 to 150cm above 500 metres. Below 300 metres, expect 60 to 90mm of rain during the period, including Christchurch City, with 10 to 20cm of snow likely above 200 metres.

Update 11.00am
SIGNIFICANT COLD OUTBREAK FOR MUCH OF THE COUNTRY LATER THIS WEEK Forecast : Strong cold southerlies are expected to spread north over the South Island during Wednesday evening and Thursday morning, then over the North Island late Thursday and early Friday. Temperatures are expected to become very cold over southern and eastern parts of the South Island from Wednesday night to Thursday morning, with snow to near sea level and significant snowfalls about Canterbury and southern Marlborough. Strong south to southwest winds spread over the North Island during Thursday and Friday, with gales, severe about western and northern parts of the South Island and Wellington for a time. Strong cold blustery westerlies are expected from Waikato to Northland, with gusty conditions also about the Bay of Plenty. Cold rain is expected about southern and eastern parts of the North Island, with snow expected about the central plateau.
Metservice


NZLWF