New Zealand Forecast – The Calm Before the Storm, Cold & Snow Arrive Sunday
Published early Wednesday, 1st July 2026
Fine, settled weather continues across Aotearoa NZ on Wednesday and Thursday as ski fields make the most of a new coat of snow from last week’s storm and a few nights of snowmaking. The weather starts to turn on Friday as a storm approaches from the west, rolling across the country from late Friday through mid-next week.
The leading storm front will bring gale-to-severe gale northwest winds and heavy rain to the South Island on Saturday, but cold air chasing up behind it will give the Southern Lakes a 5-15+ cm shot of quality powder by early Sunday.
Some Canterbury ski fields pick up a little snow up high beforehand, but totals won’t really start mounting up until later on Sunday when cold southerlies hit. It’ll be the start of what looks set to be a decent dump.
Mt Ruapehu should pick up a little snow up high Saturday night, but will otherwise remain fine and sunny. Ski fields there will have to wait until next week for the real goods, with a solid dump also on the cards.
Wednesday 1st July
A crystal clear day up on all Kiwi ski fields, with a northwesterly breeze over the Southern Lakes and light winds elsewhere.
Thursday 2nd July
Another fine day for South Island ski fields, apart from some high cloud developing over the Southern Lakes as northwest winds pick up. Canterbury will also have a northwest breeze.
A gorgeous sunny day for Mt Ruapehu, with a light northwest breeze.
Friday 3rd July
A cloudy day for the Southern Lakes with strengthening northwesterlies. Showers of rain and high-level snow spilling over the Main Divide will likely reach Treble Cone in the afternoon, then the other ski fields in the evening, before turning to widespread rain overnight.
Canterbury will see increasing high cloud and strengthening northwest winds.
Another beaut day for Mt Ruapehu with sunny skies and a light northwest breeze.
Saturday 4th July
A stormy morning for the Southern Lakes with heavy rain and strong, gusty northerlies. The rain will gradually ease while turning to snow in the afternoon as a cold front hits from the west, and winds will back off to a moderate northwester.
Canterbury will be lucky to have anything open, with severe-gale northwesterlies likely, while heavy rain spreads northward across the region during the day. Conditions will start to improve in the evening after the cold front passes through, with some snow falling at higher elevations as snow levels start dropping.
Mt Ruapehu will have a fine start, but clouds will then build as northerly winds strengthen. There’ll be a period of rain with high-altitude snow overnight as the front passes over.
Sunday 5th July
The Southern Lakes will receive a 5-10 cm shot of quality powder early morning and will then be mostly clear with light winds for the day. Light snow flurries return in the evening as cold southeasterly winds develop.
Mostly clear skies for Canterbury during the morning as northwest winds die out. Snow will start falling in the afternoon as the cold southerlies arrive, building into decent falls after dark.
A calm patch between storm fronts will bring fine weather to Mt Ruapehu with easing northwest breezes.
Extended Forecast
Next week, cold southerlies blow over the South Island as the storm moves eastwards over the North Island. Canterbury will continue to see solid snowfall during Monday, the 6th of July, followed by light falls through to Thursday, the 9th of July. The Southern Lakes will receive an extra dusting or shot of powder on Wednesday, the 8th of July, as a fresh burst of southerly winds whip through. Mt Ruapehu should also receive a solid dump of powder after the cold southerlies likely arrive there on Tuesday, the 7th of July.
Kiwi ski fields will be looking much better after this storm. In addition to the natural snowfall, ski fields will get a long run of great snow-making conditions, with cold temperatures likely hanging around for a few more days afterwards as the country enters a spell of dry, settled high pressure from Friday, the 10th of July.
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 Friday.
Grasshopper
