Forecast for Monday 1st & Tuesday 2nd September

On Monday, the Southern Lakes will see 5–10 cm of snow with clearer skies by afternoon, while Canterbury fields will range from 10–15 cm at Temple Basin to almost nothing at Mt Hutt. Tuesday will bring another front, with 5–15 cm expected across the South Island, though Mt Hutt will again only manage a few centimetres.

Forecast for Wednesday 3rd to Friday 5th September

Wednesday will be mostly fine, though clouds will build later as northwest winds strengthen. On Thursday, another front will deliver 10–30 cm of snow near the Main Divide, while Mt Hutt may see rain; winds will be severe before easing later in the day. By Friday, severe gales return with a mix of rain and snow before a colder southerly change brings potentially heavy low-level snowfall overnight.

Unsettled weather looks set to continue across NZ until at least mid-next week, bringing further snow, rain, and strong winds. Forecast models still vary on the finer points, so it’s best to hold off on specifics until the outlook becomes clearer.

Thanks for reading. The next forecast will be out on Wednesday.

Mike