Just when everyone is starting to think winter is not as cold as it once was, the MetService says there is potential for more snow across the southern region this weekend - and it could be a recurring weather feature this month.
A MetService spokesman said the first few days of July offered a "relatively quiet pause" in our weather. However, the remainder of the month was looking to be stormy and wet, with cooler-than-average temperatures in the second half of the month.
A deep low with associated fronts and troughs from the north Tasman Sea should affect New Zealand on Thursday and Friday, bringing strong winds and rain to much of New Zealand.
Cold air may spread across the South Island from late Friday to Saturday, and snow was likely to affect parts of the South Island during that time - especially higher roads and passes, he said.
"There is a decent potential for further South Island snowfall, keeping skifields smiling.
"This recipe of stormy Tasman lows and Southern Ocean fronts continues through until about mid-month, keeping rainfall and snowfall totals ticking along for most regions.
"Once we hit mid-month, expect a major pattern change to colder weather - southerlies and high pressure systems."
He said the "back half" of July was predicted to be slightly colder than average, and precipitation should favour eastern areas of both islands, including a risk of further decent snowfalls in the South Island.
