It was a dramatic weekend with winds close to 200km/h, snow, downpours and dramatic temperatures. This week isn't so crazy with the first few days of the week far more settled and a bit milder. By the the end of the week gales and rain returns with a potential short lived polar blast on Sunday and next Monday (Aug1)
The wild weekend weather gives way today to lighter winds and clearer skies.
Westerly gales hammered much of the country yesterday, with gusts at Cape Turnagain on the North Island East Coast hitting 195km/h. Wintry blasts brought snow to Dunedin and Southland.
The fierce winds ripped roofs off sheds inthe lower North Island, with the Fire Service responding to 50 calls yesterday morning.
Ski fields in the South Island had fresh dumps of snow, with more forecast this week, NZ ski chief executive Paul Anderson said.
Temperatures in Auckland dropped 5C in just eight minutes to 12C yesterday afternoon as a burst of torrential downpours and gale force winds hit the city.