Wednesday to Friday (4th to 6th September)

Snow will clear from Canterbury in the early morning Wednesday, leading to a sunny day for all South Island resorts, although some clouds may appear over the Southern Lakes by late afternoon. Winds will shift from the south-southwest to the west.

Mt Ruapehu will experience a brisk southerly change in the morning with snow showers, which will clear by early afternoon.

On Thursday, The Southern Lakes will see a mix of sun and clouds with northwest winds, and rain or high-elevation snow showers will arrive at night.

Canterbury will have mostly clear skies with some high clouds and light westerly breezes.

Mt Ruapehu will enjoy a sunny day with a gentle southwest breeze.

Showers will move out of the Southern Lakes early in the morning Friday, with a few light ones possibly appearing in Canterbury later in the day, mainly affecting resorts near the Main Divide. The rest of the day will be mostly fine, with strong northwesterly winds in exposed areas and rain developing after dark.

Mt Ruapehu will have a cloudy, drizzly day as southwesterly winds increase.

The Weekend (7th & 8th September)

Saturday will be a challenging day for the South Island with heavy rain and gale to severe gale northwest winds, leading to possible disruptions. A cold southwest change will bring a light snow dusting to the Southern Lakes late in the afternoon, moving up to Canterbury in the evening before clearing quickly.

The cold front will reach the North Island on Sunday, potentially delivering a light snow dusting to Mt Ruapehu early, followed by clearer skies and calming winds. The South Island will mostly experience clear weather, while strong southwesterly winds gradually shift northwest as another front moves in from the west.

The new front arriving from the west will bring a mix of snow and rain on Monday into early Tuesday, accompanied by severe gale-force winds from the west.

Thanks for reading. I'll continue to provide these forecasts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout the southern hemisphere season.

Mike O'Connor