New Zealand Forecast – Fine till Wednesday, a little Rain & Snow Before the Weekend
Published early Monday, 16th June 2025
It was a cracking weekend for Kiwi ski fields that opened over the weekend, with crystal clear skies and calm winds.
However, after some good snowfall in Canterbury on Wednesday and Thursday last week, warmer temperatures arrived on Friday, turning it all to rain and forcing Mt Hutt to delay their Opening Day till Saturday. An overnight freeze then transformed a once-soft, powdery snowpack into a firmer, icier one, but the good coverage, with a depth of 78-127 cm, more than made up for it. A thinner snowpack in the Southern Lakes limited skiing to the groomed runs, but they were in good nick after a long run of great snow-making conditions.
High pressure will continue the run of fine weather through Wednesday, with good snow-making conditions. A front brings a mix of rain and snow on Thursday, ahead of a colder southerly change on Friday, which will bring snow showers through into early Saturday and leave a dusting of snow for another fantastic weekend.
Monday 16th June
A lovely fine day for South Island ski fields, although there’ll be a little bit of cloud in Canterbury due to an easterly breeze. Cold temps will have the snow guns blazing.
Tuesday 17th June
A stunning, clear, calm day for all Kiwi ski fields. Chilly temps again for the snow guns
Wednesday 18th June
Another gorgeous day for all ski fields as north-to-northwest breezes develop over the South Island. Chilly temps before opening time for the snow guns.
Thursday 19th June
A front passing over from the west will bring a period of rain to South Island ski fields, falling as snow up high for the Southern Lakes, where it’ll pin back to the odd shower in the afternoon as snow levels start dropping. Gusty north-to-northwest winds rise to a strong gale in exposed areas of Canterbury, which may limit operations there.
Extended Forecast
On Friday 20th June, a southerly wind change will work its way up the South Island, bringing some light snow showers to the Southern Lakes from early in the day into Friday night, and to Canterbury from Friday afternoon into the early Saturday, the 21st June.
With additional snow making, it’ll be the perfect setup for the weekend, which will be mainly fine and settled as a ridge of high pressure passes over.
That’s all from me today, folks. I’m sending out these forecasts every Monday, Wednesday and Friday throughout the season. So, see you back here Wednesday.
Grasshopper
