Snow-melting winds and warm weather will sweep the country this week - to the dismay of ski bunnies nationwide.
Meteorologists are forecasting a largely temperate, mild week with a westerly flow bringing warm and windy conditions to most of the country.
But that's set to change on Thursday when rain and gusty winds are expected to hit the South Island and move north - reaching Wellington just in time for the Super 15 final match on Saturday.
WeatherWatch analyst Philip Duncan said a colder southerly was heading for the North Island on Saturday but should burn out by Sunday.
Rugby fans should rug up for the Super 15 final at the Cake Tin, with a forecast temperature of 10degC and gusty winds expected.
Rain was likely to hit the capital on Saturday as well but should ease by the evening, he said.
"It's not going to be overly warm. Showers are definitely possible into Saturday night with cold southerlies, but it's not a dramatic event.
"It's just a bit unfortunate it's not a bit more settled. But for rugby fans, that's nothing, and for Wellington rugby fans it's certainly nothing," Mr Duncan said.
Some areas in the South Island might see up to 25degC increases in their overnight temperatures compared to the cold snap of last week, he said.
Omarama reached a chilly -20degC last week - a mere 5degC off the all-time New Zealand low of -25.6degC, recorded in Ranfurly in 1903.
Black ice made the roads particularly treacherous, with three people dying in crashes in Canterbury.
Mr Duncan said the ski fields should not expect huge dumps of snow but might see some lighter flurries towards Friday and Saturday.
More than 1500 ski bunnies flocked to Mt Ruapehu on the weekend as the first chairlifts whirred into action for another season.
The ski field was hit hard by the severe flooding earlier this month, which caused evacuations and massive slips in Whanganui and Taranaki and stripped back some of the mountain's built-up snow coverage.
But the beginner areas of Whakapapa and Turoa were both able to open on time after snowmakers put in some hard yards.
Mt Ruapehu executive manager Simon Dickson said snowmaking would continue in earnest during the start of the week.
"The snow quality on the lower slopes is great for this time of year, thanks to a big week of snowmaking and cooler temperatures," he said.
The intermediate trails and selected upper mountain areas were expected to open within the next week, he said.
Mt Ruapehu followed the lead of New Zealand's South Island ski fields which largely opened on time earlier this month.
MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said snow could be on the cards for higher areas of the mountain this week.
Snow was forecast for the 2000m mark and Mt Ruapehu might see "some action" most day, he said.
"They will actually do alright," he said.
"I don't think there'll be any significant dumps in one go but there will be a steady rate, they'll certainly get stuff most days this week they'll see a bit of precipitation up there. And at times conditions will be cool enough for a bit of snow-making even if it's going to be windy."
But the South Island ski fields might not be so lucky - with warm and dry winds sweeping Otago and Canterbury early in the week.
"The bad news is the start of the week," he said.
"We've got strong northwest winds sweeping Otago and Canterbury...so there could be significant melting going on in the next 24-36 hours then it's largely dry for most of the week."
The week ahead
*Dunedin: Fine with chance of showers and cloud. Northerlies.
*Queenstown: Cloudy periods, few showers. Gusty westerlies possibly rising to gales.
*Auckland: Fine spells, showers and cloud periods. Northerlies developing.
*Hamilton: Fine spells with a few showers and northwesterlies developing.
*Wellington: Mainly fine with cloud increasing and possible gales.
*Christchurch: Fine with cloudy periods and northeasterlies.
- Lauren Priestley of NZME. News Service
