Winter sets in
Week one of winter has struck with 29 warnings across the country. Photo: Metservice
The first week of winter is well and truly here including an orange rain forecast for the Richmond Ranges with 29 warnings across the country.
Metservice expects 70 to 100 mm of rain over the day, with peak intensities of 15 to 20 mm per hour with thunderstorms possible.
Thunderstorms and localised downpours are also possible about the Sounds this afternoon alongside northerlies, rising to gale in exposed places this afternoon.
The region’s hills may also see its first substantial snowfall down to low levels for the year, as the winter weather continues through the weekend with a Thursday reprieve to hang the washing out.
“Tomorrow looks like the Kahurangi National Park could get a bit of snow down to about 900m, and Nelson Lakes down to about 700m”, said MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris.
“Friday and Saturday could be interesting around the Kaikōura's - freezing level gets down to around 600m so snow will be falling below that, maybe to 400m on current forecast information”.