A cooler end to the week

A cooler end to the week

Rain was delivered to the West Coast of the South Island today as a front travelled north, with showers spreading east of the Alps. Elsewhere it was a mostly fine day, although it turned cloudy in the southwest of the North Island.

The new week starts off with the front weakening as it crosses New Zealand. Rain clears from the West Coast on Monday, but cloud and showers move onto central and western parts of the North Island, along with a change to southwesterlies.

A gentle westerly flow covers the country on Tuesday, bringing cloud and a few showers to western places, while fine weather prevails in the east. "Warm afternoon temperatures are expected in the east of both islands on Tuesday, and some places could reach into the high twenties," commented MetService meteorologist Peter Little.

A cold southerly change then sweeps up the country on Wednesday bringing a period of rain or showers to most places. "Snow is also likely about high country areas, which may affect some of the South Island alpine passes on Wednesday and the Desert Road on Thursday," said Little.

A ridge of high pressure moves onto the country on Friday, bringing settled weather, with a frosty start to the day in sheltered places.

Keep up to date with the latest forecasts and any watches/warnings atmetservice.com or on mobile devices at m.metservice.com. You can also follow our updates on MetService TV, at MetService New Zealand on Facebook, @metservice and @MetServiceWARN on Twitter and atblog.metservice.com

ENDS

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