NZ Weekly Weather Blog – Sun, Slush and BBQs

September 5th, 2011


Glorious day at Cardrona – Wednesday 7 September. Image:: Cardrona

Snow Journal| Matt White

Kia-Ora everyone, hope you are all enjoying the spring conditions on offer across the country right now, time to dust off that BBQ and get ready for later sunsets and lots of sunshine for the month to come!

Last week my forecast suggested most of the week would be full of wind and rain/snow showers but in reality none of that happened, instead it was a beautiful sunny week of springtime slush with a very light dusting of snow mid week. spring is upon us!

September is such an unstable month for New Zealand it is hard to know what the weather will do from one day to the next.. its still totally possible to get another fresh dump of snow, but at the same time it is also possible for it to rain, or be severely windy. Personally for me its nice to be able to come off the mountain and still have enough time to enjoy a few beers in the sun and reflect on a fun day shredding the slush with your friends.
The bad news when spring hits however is that the seasons are changing now and we are now moving steadily towards the end of the ski season, in fact there is just under a month to go… the old saying is true, time really does fly when your having fun!

It has been a much shorter season than usual though, with the snow a month overdue for most hills its hard to not feel short-changed… the reality is its hard to keep the fields running any longer than scheduled is usually due to lack of people around to sustain its running costs.. season pass holders don’t pay all of the bills and come October there might as well be tumbleweeds rolling down the main streets of any given resort towns.
With the ever changing climatic conditions its hard to say what is ahead of us in terms of the weather for this month so it may be time to cash in on some of those sick days you’ve been clutching onto in the hope of a powder day.. whatever way you want to look at it you want to get up there as much as you can now and enjoy it while it lasts!

Looking at the weather for this week
Its looking like a bit of a mixed bag across the country this week, expect everything from showers, snow, wind, cloud and sunshine.. take plenty of layers and sunscreen too!

North Island

Whakapapa/Turoa/Tukino– Cloudy with sunny patches throughout the week with NW winds and the potential for rain on Sunday.
Maunganui– A chance of rain for Tuesday and then mostly sunny for the rest of the week with NW winds and a maybe more rain to follow on Sunday

South Island

North Canterbury
Rainbow– Relatively fine till Wednesday with SW winds, changing to W then NW with drizzle turning to showers from Thursday onwards
Hamner Springs/Mt Lyford– Tuesday beginning with heavy fog clearing to fine until Wednesday night where gale NW winds may bring some showers which will both ease by Saturday with some broken cloud. Rain is expected to follow on Sunday.
Canterbury
Temple Basin, Broken River, Cragieburn, Cheeseman, Mt Hutt, Porter Heights, Mt Olympus– Morning fog for Tuesday clearing to fine and sunny until Wednesday evening, Gale NW to follow easing Friday afternoon with rain showers expected for the weekend.
South Cantebury
Fox Peak, Mt Dobson Round Hill, Ohau– A foggy start to Tuesday but should clear, Gale NW to pick up Wednesday evening and ease by Thursday evening/Friday morning. Showers for the weekend.
Southern Lakes
Treble Cone, Cardrona, Snow Park/Snow Farm, Remarkables, Coronet Peak– Morning fog for Tuesday clearing to fine through to Wednesday where NW winds pick up becoming Gale later in the day. A chance of snow on Thursday with Gale NW easing and clearing for Friday. Showers expected for the weekend.. sorry weekend warriors this might not be your week!

Here’s how the resorts are shaping up snow-wise

Snow Bases across the country (cm)

Whakapapa 178
Turoa 280
Tukino 320
Manganui 260
Rainbow 105
Hamner Springs 190
Mt Lyford 170
Mt Hutt 90
Porters 85
Mt Cheeseman 120
Mt Olympus 165
Cragieburn 135
Temple Basin 243
Broken River 165
Fox Peak 85
Mt Dobson 87
Roundhill 80
Ohau 105
Treble Cone 109
Cardrona 110
Snow Park 79
Snow Farm 75
Coronet Peak 127
Remarkables 80
Queenstown Snowcats Closed for the season

With the arrival of spring brings plenty of fun activities/events held up the mountain, expect to see plenty of dress up days, races, pond skims, live music and maybe even a few keen streakers.. spring brings out the randomness in people on the slopes and makes for quality laughs from for those on the chairlift!

Thanks for tuning in again this week, hopefully the weather predictions aren’t quite what they’re supposed to be and we get another week of sunshine and spring slush! Until then enjoy your week!