New Zealand Forecast – Fresh Snow & Sunshine for Matariki Long Weekend, Deep Totals in Canterbury
Published early Monday, 6th July 2026
It was a horrendous, stormy day for the South Island on Saturday, but things turned cold on Sunday, with ski fields reporting between 5 and 20cm of fresh snow by the end of the day. By the time Friday comes around, which is a public holiday for Matariki, marking the Māori New Year, the storm will have cleared, and ski fields will be vastly improved after fresh snowfall and great snowmaking conditions.
Canterbury is set to score big time, with a storm total of 50-80+ cm on the cards. It’ll be a complete makeover for the region, opening up more endless terrain and more ski fields after some initial disruptions.
The Southern Lakes will pick up another 5-10 cm by early Monday, followed by another 3-10 cm on Wednesday, alongside a week of great snowmaking conditions.
Mt Ruapehu misses much of the action, but will pick up a shot of snow on its upper slopes on Monday, before strong winds from the south hit late Wednesday, bringing high-level snow at first, lowering to base levels on Thursday with up to 5-15 cm of fresh snow by the time it clears up Thursday night.
Monday 6th July
By Dawn, snowfall over the Southern Lakes will have eased to occasional light flurries, and we should be looking at another 5-10 cm of fresh powder since Sunday evening. The flurries dry up in the afternoon, but icy southeasterly winds will keep slopes clagged in with cloud and low visibility.
Snow spreads northward throughout Canterbury during the morning as south-to-southeast winds strengthen. There’ll be heavy snowfall through the latter half of the day, especially in the north, where it’ll likely fall as rain on slopes around 1500m and below.
Mt Ruapehu will pick up a shot of less than 10cm of snow on its upper slopes as a rain band passes over during the day. Strong northeasterly winds back off in the afternoon.
Tuesday 7th July
A mostly cloudy day for the Southern Lakes, as cold easterlies turn northeast.
Heavy snowfall in Canterbury eases to lighter showers for Mt Hutt and the Craigieburn Range ski fields during the morning as strong south-to-southeast winds start to abate, but it’ll continue to bucket down in the north, where it’ll fall as rain on slopes around 1500m and below.
A lull in the storm for Mt Ruapehu with mostly clear skies and an easterly breeze.
Wednesday 8th July
An extra surge of cold southeasterly winds will see the Southern Lakes receive another 3-10 cms of snow during the day, most of which will fall during the morning.
Light snowfall in Canterbury will gradually build into heavier, more persistent falls during the morning and afternoon as cold southeast winds strengthen. In the north, snow levels will also gradually fall to low altitudes as colder air arrives.
Another nice fine day for Mt Ruapehu with light winds. But a strong southeasterly hits late afternoon, bringing rain and high-level snow.
Thursday 9th July
Any leftover snow flurries over the Southern Lakes clear before dawn, and the cloud will drop below ski field height during the morning, leaving clear skies above for an epic afternoon session. Light, but cold easterly breezes.
Another day of snow in Canterbury, and it’ll be high-quality powder falling to low levels, thanks to icy, cold southerly winds. The snow clears at night or overnight as winds ease.
A stormy day for Mt Ruapehu with strong southeast winds. Snow about the upper slopes will lower to near base levels during the morning, with decent snowfall on the cards. The snow gradually eases through the latter half of the day and clears at night as winds back off.
Friday 10th July
Matariki public holiday will be beautiful, clear and sunny for the Southern Lakes with a light southeast breeze.
A cracking day that you won’t want to miss at Mt Hutt with a tonne of fresh powder and only partly cloudy skies to contend with. It’ll be a similar story for the rest of Canterbury, but it’ll be cloudier with east-to-southeast breezes.
With fresh snow on Mt Ruapehu, it’ll also be one of the better days of the season. There’ll be cloudy skies, but it’ll start to break up later as chilly southeast winds ease.
Extended Forecast
It’s going to be a beautiful weekend, the 11th and 12th of July, with fine, settled weather as high pressure drifts over the country. With all the new natural snow and ongoing great snowmaking conditions, it’s set to be a ripper.
Next week, conditions may get even better with another big storm expected to hit the country and give Kiwi ski fields another solid dump of powder. The leading front may bring a mix of rain and snow, along with strong northwest winds, on Monday and Tuesday, the 13th and 14th, before a low-pressure system crosses the country from Wednesday the 15th, bringing a few days of snowfall and cold southerly winds. Fingers and boots crossed that this one pans out, as ski fields would be fully set up for the season with a lot of terrain on offer.
That’s all from me today, folks. I’m sending out NZ forecasts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the season. Have a great couple of days, and I’ll see you back here on Wednesday.
Grasshopper
