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21/09/2026
Covering the period of Monday 21 - Thursday 24 September

Aotearoa / New Zealand’s weather this week is driven by a steady stream of cold southwesterly winds. MetService is forecasting three distinctive cold changes early this week, ultimately leading into a frosty start on Thursday morning.

Ahead of the initial change on Monday, most of the country is under a warmer northwesterly flow with light winds. Dry conditions, and even blue skies, extend over Aotearoa due to a narrow ridge of high pressure from the northern Tasman Sea. These calm, warmer conditions will make the first cool change passing through overnight noticeable, with a sharp temperature drop expected alongside a switch from northwesterly to southwesterly winds.

Rain accompanying the change will quickly move across the country, with the potential for snow about the highest peaks and impacting the mountain passes of the South Island. Snow is forecast to fall to around 800 metres Monday evening and gradually drop as further brushes of cold air lower the freezing level. Road Snowfall Warnings have been issued for the Milford Road (SH94), Lindis Pass (SH8), and Porters Pass (SH73) from early Tuesday and travellers are advised to take care over these alpine highways.

While the first change will be notable from the temperature contrast, the second brings the weather: MetService’s Thunderstorm Outlook has been published with a risk of thunderstorms and hail along both the eastern and western coasts of the South Island, as well as gusty winds for the southern South Island. Snow could reach as low as 300 metres above sea level overnight into Wednesday morning around Southland and Central Otago.

Drier conditions prevail through Wednesday, with the exception of showers along the eastern coasts of both islands.

MetService meteorologist Clare O’Connor says “Midday Wednesday also marks the spring equinox, reminding us that we are slowly but surely making our way towards summer. It’s good to keep that in mind on Thursday morning as we once again layer up to brace ourselves against widespread frosty conditions – while summer is coming, spring is still just getting started.”

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