Forecast for Friday 26th September

On friday, a front delivers fresh powder to the southern lakes and 5–15cm across canterbury, though mt hutt sees some rain low down with severe northwest gales before clearing to sun. Later, the front reaches mt ruapehu with rain, high-level snow, and strengthening northwest winds.

Forecast for Saturday 27th & Sunday 28th September

On saturday, south island fields start fine before a front brings rain, a little upper snow, and strengthening northwesterly gales, while light rain and high snow clear ruapehu by afternoon. Sunday turns cloudier with rain, snow high up, and severe gales for canterbury, while the southern lakes see a cold westerly change with low-level snow at night.

Forecast Monday 29th & Tuesday 30th September

On Monday, snow showers clear the Southern Lakes in the morning, leaving fresh powder and mostly sunny skies, while Canterbury clears before dawn but sees light snow in the afternoon from a cold southerly change. Mt Ruapehu experiences rain and strengthening northwest winds that ease overnight after a front passes. On Tuesday, northwest winds bring cloud to the Southern Lakes, Canterbury stays clear, and Mt Ruapehu remains mainly fine with westerly breezes.

October starts with a brief dusting of snow from a cold change early in the week, followed by clearing skies before a return of westerly storms bringing mainly rain, high-level snow, and strong northwest winds, with no major powder dumps expected.

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

Mike