New Zealand Daily Snow
By Mike O'Connor, Meteorologist Posted 8 months ago August 28, 2025
Long & Strong Spring Storm Cycle Has Begun, Watch as the Powder Piles Up!
Summary
A stormy spring pattern with frequent fronts, strong winds, and fluctuating temperatures. Canterbury and Mt Ruapehu will see the worst gales, disrupting operations. Snowfall totals look solid: 20–40cm in the Southern Lakes, 10–25cm in Canterbury, and over half a metre possible at Temple Basin. Ruapehu’s upper slopes may also exceed half a metre, though lower slopes will see 15–25 due to rain.
Short Term Forecast
Forecast for Friday 29th to Sunday 31st August
From Friday to Sunday, the South Island will see a mix of snow showers, fine breaks, and strong shifting winds, with Queenstown and Canterbury experiencing the most variation. Friday brings scattered snow and sunny spells, while Saturday sees cloud build-up, rain/snow spilling east, and severe gale northwesterlies before a cold westerly change delivers 2–8cm in the Southern Lakes. Sunday brings further snow, with 10–15cm of powder to low levels in Canterbury before clearing, while the Southern Lakes get more showers followed by another strong southwest change.
Forecast for Monday 1st & Tuesday 2nd September
Monday brings a brief southwest change with light snow for Canterbury (more at Temple Basin) and a decent top-up to low levels in the Southern Lakes before skies clear and winds ease. On Tuesday, another front delivers fresh powder, heavier in the Southern Lakes than Canterbury, before clearing skies and easing winds in the afternoon.
Extended Forecast
One more front should bring snow before next weekend, but beyond that forecasts diverge between a major snowstorm and settled high pressure.
Thanks for reading. The next forecast will be out on Monday.
Mike
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