New Zealand is in the firing line for multiple weather systems next week. Two from the Tasman Sea are set to bring heavy rain before a third from the Southern Ocean arrives, which is forecast to produce the first sea-level snow of the year.
MetService says Kiwis should expect bouts of wet weather across Aotearoa, with areas west of the main spine of New Zealand's ranges experiencing more rainfall than further east.
"System number one is already on our doorstep, with a heavy rain watch in place for the ranges of southern Westland from 1pm today until 6am on Monday morning. The rain crosses the North Island from the west, then most of it clears in the South Island over the course of tomorrow," MetService said.
"System number two will arrive on Tuesday, sweeping another band of rain up the West Coast, then onto the North Island. There is a heavy rain watch in place for Fiordland and southern Westland starting at 6am on Tuesday."
Then, at the end of the upcoming week, WeatherWatch warns a Southern Ocean storm may produce the first sea-level snow for New Zealand this year.
"The first proper winter blast of 2022 may be on the way for New Zealand, following weeks of milder than usual weather," the forecaster said.
"A storm is forecast to develop this week in the Southern Ocean and by this coming Friday or Saturday the set-up may allow an Antarctic southerly to bring the first sea-level, or low-level, snow event of the year to New Zealand."
The current forecast has snow appearing in places like Dunedin, Invercargill, Gore and Queenstown next Saturday (June 11), with snow to sea level in Southland and Otago and to low levels in some parts of Canterbury.
"It's too early to lock this in but the data and reliable models are certainly aligning more to bring a wintry outbreak to the country at the end of this week," said WeatherWatch.co.nz head forecaster Philip Duncan.
