Cold snap coming for South


Get ready for a cold snap in the South.

After a warm weekend, things are going to get decidedly wet and chilly as a cold front from the Southern Ocean sweeps up the country.

MetService says from  Wednesday to Friday, strong and cold winds will cover much of New Zealand, which could become severe in exposed places of Banks Peninsula on Wednesday.

The temperature overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday is expected to dip to 0deg C in Christchurch.

Showers with southerlies are expected on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the city.

Snow was also likely to affect some higher roads and passes over the South Island from Wednesday, with snow possibly lowering to 300 metres in the south of the South Island. 

However, warning amounts of snow were not expected at this stage.

Meanwhile, rain has been falling in the Buller Ranges on Monday, with up to 110mm more expected until 11pm.

A heavy rain watch was also in place for Fiordland and Westland.

“This year the spring equinox marks the arrival of a cold bout of weather from the Southern Ocean,” MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said.

“An extended period of southwesterly winds will provide Aotearoa with some bands of rain, showery conditions and cool temperatures with snow forecast to affect southern areas of the South Island on Wednesday."

Fine weather was forecast for most of New Zealand just in time for the weekend.