Weather watch: Rain, wind and snow

  • 28/07/2016
Weather watch: Rain, wind and snow

Hold on to your hats - strong winds and heavy rain are expected for the lower North Island and parts of the South Island today.

Gusts of up to 135km/h in Wairarapa have been recorded overnight, with a strong wind warning in place from MetService. Hawke's Bay will also experience a norwesterly of up to 120km/h. 

The windy weather is expected to ease tomorrow morning.

Another 20 to 30mm is expected on top of the 50mm the Tararua District has already had. The rain should easy by this afternoon.

Windy Wellington will become wet Wellington, with showers expected particularly in the north of the city towards Hutt Valley and Porirua. The strong wind warning has just been lifted, a MetService spokesperson says.

The east coast of the South Island will be relatively dry today, however the West Coast has several fronts moving through bringing rain and possible thunderstorms.

Further south, Otago and Southland residents may see a dusting of snow around the hills. Both regions are in for more rain this afternoon.

State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound is closed to traffic due to heavy snow. Drivers are also being told to take care, with ice on the roads on State Highway 8. 

Snow is expected later this afternoon in Lewis Pass, Lindis Pass, Haast Pass, and Arthur's Pass which also has a strong wind warning. 

The ski fields in the south are calling powder days, with Treble Cone reporting 50cm overnight. Skiers at Cardrona in the video above were loving the conditions. 

Mt Hutt opened around 10am but Ruapehu is closed due to strong winds. 

Newshub.