Weather: Wild Wednesday to bring rain, strong winds and snow to the country

A strong wind watch is in place in Auckland after gusts of up to 90km/h and cold rain showers lashed the city this morning.

MetService meteorologist Peter Little said the wild weather will continue into the evening with the chance of thunder and hailstorms.

He said the front crossing the city was moving quickly and bringing fleeting showers, unlike nine days ago when torrential rain flooded Kumeu and other areas in West Auckland.

Windy and/or showery weather for most places this afternoon https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^PL pic.twitter.com/jF2aCtzOe2

— MetService (@MetService) September 8, 2021

The rest of New Zealand is also feeling the cold outbreak, particularly the North Island where few places escape the showers.

The West Coast of the South Island is looking reasonably fine now, and some rain and snow in parts of Christchurch and Canterbury is clearing.

A front with strong southerwesterlies is behind the wintry weather, followed by a brief ridge of bad weather moving on tomorrow with a few showers but the winds will not be a fierce, Little said.

Auckland is on the end of a

getting battered by rain and strong winds gusting up to 90km/h in exposed places this morning and the unpleasant weather is set to carry on until this evening.

The cold change coming out of the Southern Ocean will hit in two surges - today and Friday - forecaster WeatherWatch said.

"It's a 'spring blast' with gales, heavy snow and strong winds," WeatherWatch's Philip Duncan said.

That meant rain is expected for the southwest of the South Island, but it's not thought to stick around for the whole day.

The rain then will move to the North Island bringing a wet morning for most.

💨💨💨 Check out these strong winds headed for Auckland & the northern North Island on Wednesday!

🔴 <=> 100 km/h wind gusts <=>🔴

🗣️ Secure those trampolines!

There will also be heavy showers & possible hail 💥

Maybe not a bad time to be in level 4⁉️ pic.twitter.com/AWZ353gJAD

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) September 7, 2021

MetService forecaster Paul Ngamanu said Aucklanders should expect showers starting mid-morning with some heavy falls.

Gale force winds are also in store for the City of Sails with winds reaching gusts of 90km/h.

"We've got another front that's bringing southwest gales to Auckland," Ngamanu said.

A strong wind watch will remain in place for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula and Waikato north of Hamilton until 7pm today.

Forecasters are predicting the weather this week will be messy because of a number of warm and cold fronts embedded in the system.

With ski fields expected to open today, those wanting to hit the slopes are in for some good news.

Crown Rage Road covered in snow earlier this year after a cold Antarctic blast hit the region. Photo / George Heard

A number of snowfall warnings are also in place for roads across the South Island and central North Island this morning.

Fresh snow in Arthurs Pass this morning. Photo / Supplied

"All of the high passes are going to be affected by this snow," Ngamanu said.

Wednesday's emojicast:

         🌧
           🌧
             🌧️🌧️
            🌧️🌧️🌧🌧
         🌧🌧🌧🌧
             🌧️🌧️🌤️
                   🌧️🌧
                      🌧
 
             🌧️🌤️
          🌧🌧️
        🌧🌤️🌧                   🌧️
      🌤️🌤️
  🌤️🌤️🌤️
🌨️🌤️🌤️
   🌨️

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) September 7, 2021

The Milford road can expect the most snow with 10-15cm to settle on the road above 800m. Only 2-4cm is expected to settle on the Crown Range Rd.

And 1-3cm is expected to settle on the Lindis Pass and Haast Pass.

Snowfall on the Lewis Pass is expected to affect higher parts of the road early this morning and from 11am to 2pm, 1cm may settle on the road.

About 2-4cm is expected to settle near the summit of the Desert Rd.

❄ Snow on the way ❄

Cold air moving up the country brings about the potential for snow.

As low as 200m in the far south with Road Snowfall Warnings currently in force for many alpine passes (see thread)

Patches of heavy snow are possible and there's a Watch in force ^Lewis pic.twitter.com/eiIlLKw73F

— MetService (@MetService) September 7, 2021

A heavy snow watch has also been issued for Fiordland south of Te Anau but is expected to lift at 10am.

Snow is expected down to 200m, with heavy falls above 400m.

Heavy rain was also forecast in the area with a warning in place until 11pm.

Heavy rain, snowfall and strong winds were also tipped for the Canterbury high country.

Wet and wintry Newmarket this morning. Photo / Dean Purcell

However, frosty temperatures aren't anticipated for the South Island.

Cooler temperatures are expected for most of the country with top temperatures reaching the low teens.

Ngamanu said a few showers are in store for the upper half of the North Island but nothing heavy.

Those in the capital can expect a few morning showers alongside southerly winds.