New Zealand Forecast, Monday July 10th – Fine Ridge Days Down South Before The Fronts Arrive, Light Snow/Rain & SW Winds Persist On Ruapheu
Mountainwatch | The Grasshopper
Written early Monday 10thJuly, valid to Thursday 13thJuly
Monday and Tuesday will be a couple of pearlers for South Island resorts, who will be sitting snug under a narrow ridge wedged between a low sitting just east of the North Island, and more active low pressure systems to the west.
All the weather will be up on Ruapheu as the low sucks in a SW flow over the mountain, with a mix of light snowfall up high, light rain/drizzle down low, and everything in between.
The first front from the west will strike during Wednesday. However, it will have lost most of its juice upon first arrival, delivering only a little snow down south and a little more to Ruapehu, although the strong cold SW winds that follow will allow plenty of snow making to be done.
In similar fashion, we’ll see a second front passing over during Thursday. However, most of the precipitation will be in the leading warm edge, so snow levels will be up around mid-slopes. Suffice to say it won’t be the nicest of days, as W-SW winds will still be up at gale force.
Monday 10th
It’ll be a stunning, calm sunny day for the South Island resorts, above any low cloud down in the valleys and basins.
Light snowfalls for Ruapehu, which will become far a few between during the afternoon and the cloud may even break up to let some sunshine in, especially about the upper slopes. Snow levels aren’t great, however, so it’ll likely be wet and sleety on mid-lower slopes. SW winds.
Tuesday 11th
Another pearler down south, with calm winds and sunshine to boot! Although a NW breeze will kick in from late afternoon, as well as a scrap of high cloud over the Southern Lakes making for a lovely sunset.
Light snow flurries and/or drizzle for Ruapehu as SW winds continue, although the upper mountain should stay mostly clear above the clouds.
Wednesday 12th
In the Southern Lakes, a dusting or skiff of snow will fall before dawn. Lingering light snow showers and flurries will firstly clear Treble Cone early morning, and lastly The Remarkables during the afternoon. Frigid SW winds will be strong in exposed areas.
Canterbury will also cop a skiff of snow about the club fields before dawn, blown over from the Main Divide by gale NW winds. Winds will turn to a colder SW early, leaving a mostly fine day, although there cloud be a few snow showers during the afternoon, most likely on Mt Hutt.
Light snowfalls/rain showers continue on Ruapehu, although we should see a period of more persistent and slightly heavier snowfall through the middle of the day falling to low levels, as gale westerlies turn to colder gale southwesterlies.
Thursday 13th
Conditions will deteriorate over the South Island, with cloud increasing and westerlies rising to gale, before a front flying in from the west brings a period of snowfall, followed by clearing skies and SW winds. Again, only a dusting for the Southern Lakes and a skiff for Canterbury is on the cards, although temps aren’t that cold so it may be just rain down low.
Snow will continue to fall on Ruapehu, not heavily mind you, as gale SW winds don’t let up. Snow levels will start nice and low, but will gradually creep up so that it will likely be the wet stuff falling on lower slopes during the latter half of the day.
Extended Forecast
A high to the NW of the country will maintain the strong SW flow over Ruapehu during Friday and the weekend, along with mostly light rainfall, although a little snow may fall up high at times. Strong W-NW winds will also continue to blow over the South Island with showers of rain and snow spilling over the Main Divide at times.
A compact wee low passing up the east coast should bring a nice wee top-up for everybody from Sunday night into Monday, along with colder winds from the south.
That’s all from me today, folks. See you again Friday.
Grasshopper
