Country set for wintry blast this weekend

MetService meteorologist Karl Loots said the whole country was going to be hit by a wintry blast this weekend. Photo / File

Kiwis can expect a weekend of cold temperatures, strong winds and rain, as a front makes its way slowly up the country.

MetService meteorologist Karl Loots said the whole country was going to be hit by a wintry blast this weekend.

"For the weekend we are going to see a significant cold weather outbreak coming.

"We have a front that is making its way, tomorrow morning, towards the lower South Island. It then moves up during course of tomorrow, it will be situated just south of Wellington at midnight tomorrow night."

The front would bring snow down to near sea level for places such as Southland and Fiordland, and snow to around 300m for Canterbury.

"Behind it we have got strong south-westerly winds so it's going to feel pretty cold."

On Sunday the front would spread up through the North Island.

"Really, Sunday into Monday is going to feel a lot colder, windier and showery. The lowest snow will probably be around 400m for the lower North Island.

"It's going to be a lot worse than we've had recently, unfortunately."

Mr Loots said it was mostly cloudy in Auckland today, before some rain and showers developed in the afternoon.

"We had quite moderate winds ... and maximum temperatures were around 14C."

Most of the rain fell in Northland today, Mr Loots said.

There was a severe weather warning in place for heavy rainfall in areas of Northland tonight.

"We also had a period of rain earlier this morning with a front on the South Island, that brought in some rain to Canterbury this afternoon but that has all been cleared out.

"It's now coming through as quite a weak feature into Wellington, we are going to see some showers. It dies out overnight tonight."

WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said a deepening low in the northern Tasman Sea would cross Northland tonight, bringing a burst of wind and rain to those in its path.

"It's not a major system -- but the position of the low, and the fact that it's deepening, means it's one to continually monitor."

Mr Duncan said the low would also bring blustery winds to Northland and areas of Auckland and Coromandel Peninsula overnight and into tomorrow morning.

Tomorrow's forecast:

Whangarei: Mostly cloudy, rain developing. High 15C, Low 11C.
Auckland: Cloudy, few showers. High 15C, Low 8C.
Hamilton: Mostly cloudy, few showers. High 14C, Low 4C.
Wellington: Showers develop, strong northwesterlies turn southerly. High 13C, Low 5C.
Christchurch: Fine spells, morning rain. High 11C, Low -2C.

Sunday's forecast:

Whangarei: Rain easing to showers. High 16C, Low 9C
Auckland: Rain easing to showers. High 15C, Low 9C.
Hamilton: Cloudy periods, with a chance shower. High 15C, Low 6C.
Wellington: Cloudy periods, evening showers. High 12C, Low 6C.
Christchurch: Showers develop, with northwest winds. High 16C, Low 0C.

(Source: MetService)