South Island night temperatures plummet to -3 in the latest whiplash of the Arctic explosion

The Arctic “bomb cyclone” is finally subsiding on the South Island, but the icy winds from the late September cold snap will complete the month.

Snow has covered Otago and Southland since Monday, and forecasters issued snow warnings for several areas during the first week of school holidays.

But it was a snow lover’s paradise, with more than 40cm of snow recorded at Cardrona Alpine Resort, which was later closed due to strong winds.

Downtown Otago escaped the brunt of the polar blast overnight, and cities across the region woke up to a dusting of snow on the mountain ranges.

Andrew Paterson, from Matakanui Station, west of Wanaka, said he had both the first lambs and calves “on the ground” in 1cm-2cm of snow.

Motorists were warned to exercise caution when driving in dangerous conditions in the district.

Meanwhile, on Stewart Island, where snow fell on the beaches for the first time this year on Monday, a Dunedin resident had the first day of his Rakiura vacation slightly interrupted.

“The locals have told us it was the heaviest snowfall here in 35 years,” Nik Hurring told the Otago Daily Times.

In the north, the Auckland Harbor Bridge was closed for more than an hour as wild winds howled through the city.

MetService forecaster Sonja Farmer said wind gusts, which reached 98 km / h at their peak, had slowed to 40 km / h this afternoon and light winds were expected for the rest of the week.

Fine spells will increase on Wednesday in the City of Candles, with isolated showers retreating to the west in the afternoon and the winds from the southwest disappearing overnight on Tuesday.

In the south, snow and cold southwesterly winds had been easing since mid-afternoon, with the flurry of weather warnings and watches lifted Tuesday night.

But drivers need to continue to be careful, as there will likely be ice on the roads overnight and on Wednesday morning.

However, temperatures will remain below average for the rest of the week, with one last lash from the cyclone as it progresses.

But residents of the interior of the South Island have been warned of falling temperatures overnight, with a chilling low of -3 to -6 degrees expected, WeatherWatch warns.

Frosts are expected across Marlborough, Canterbury and South Westland tomorrow morning.

Daytime temperatures will only hit 10 ° C in Wellington tomorrow, while Gisborne and Napier are expected to hit only 14 ° C.

“But there will be some burns this weekend, it may not be right, but the temperatures will be much higher,” Farmer said.

Kaikōura is likely to see mercury pass to 22 ° C over the weekend, with 21 ° C expected in Christchurch.

And tomorrow will usher in a break in the wild climate when a high pressure ridge sets over the country.

Most regions will see temperatures return to double figures, with only parts of Southland and the Otago Coast struggling to break through the single digits.

“Some areas inland and South Canterbury / South Westland will have sunny skies and light winds, don’t expect nice warm weather, but it should be quite nice in these places,” says Weatherwatch.

Metservice Short Forecast:

Northland to Manawatu, including Coromandel and the central highlands

Mostly good. Isolated showers, with snow above 700 meters in the south today.

Rains retreating to the west coast tomorrow afternoon.

Bay of Plenty and Gisborne

Penalty fee. However, isolated rains for the ranges tomorrow afternoon and night.

Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa, also from Horowhenua to Wellington

Mainly fine. Isolated showers today. Severe westerly winds in exposed locations, easing tonight.

Western Nelson Ranges, also Buller and Westland

Showers and gales from the southwest to the north of Hokitika, with snow above 200 meters at first, gradually diminishing. Well elsewhere.

Rest of Nelson, also Marlborough and Canterbury

Mainly fine. It rains over the Banks Peninsula today with snow above 400 meters.

Otago, Southland and Fiordland

Widespread heavy snow showers for South Fiordland, Southland and Clutha diminish tonight and clear tomorrow night.

Chatham Islands

Showers, some loud and possibly thunder. Snow down to sea level tonight and tomorrow morning.

Metservice Extended Forecast

Thursday

Isolated showers in Northland, eastern Bay of Plenty, and Fiordland, and later developing near the Westland ranges. Mostly fine with early frosts elsewhere.

Friday

North Island: fine, with cloudy periods in the west.

South Island: rain in the west, possibly heavy. Scattered rain for Stewart Island.

Good with high clouds elsewhere. Severe wind or westerly winds in Canterbury High Country and further south.

Saturday

North Island: Isolated showers in the west, south of Hamilton. Well elsewhere. Gales or severe gales in Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay, south of Hastings.

South Island: rain in the west and extreme south, possibly heavy for a time. High cloud elsewhere. Severe westerlies to Canterbury High Country and further south.

Chatham Islands

Mostly cloudy with southwest winds on Thursday. Good times on Fridays and Saturdays. Northerners develop later on Friday and get stronger on Saturday.