New Zealand Forecast – Fronts Lined up for the Final Stretch of the Season
Published early Monday, 29th September 2025
We’ve had a bumpy ride the last few days which saw fronts passing through each day. The first front crossed the South Island early Friday, leaving a fresh top-up of powder ahead of the final weekend of the season for Treble Cone and Coronet Peak. We managed to squeak in some good conditions there Saturday and Sunday mornings before fronts arrived each afternoon and conditions deteriorated. Meanwhile, strong northwesterlies kept Mt Hutt closed on Sunday.
The latest front will leave a fresh stash of powder and lingering light snowfall in the South Island today, Monday, as it crosses Mt Ruapehu with rain and strong winds there. The next front crosses the country from late Tuesday through Wednesday, giving the Southern Lakes a fresh top-up and Canterbury and Mt Ruapehu a dusting accompanied by strong winds. The following front on Thursday comes in too warm, bringing only rain. We’ll sneak in OK conditions on Friday before a Tasman Storm moves in late in the day.
Make the most of it while you can. Cardrona wraps up on Sunday, October 5th, with The Remarkables and Mt Hutt closing the following weekend, October 12th.
Monday 29th September
Snow showers and flurries linger over the Southern Lakes, mainly about The Remarkables, clearing around evening. Brisk, chilly winds gradually abate.
Canterbury will be mostly sunny as strong westerlies back off. A southwest change late afternoon brings cloud and a dusting of snow to Mt Hutt.
Mt Ruapehu will cop strong to gale northwesterlies, and rainfall builds as a front approaches. Conditions ease at night after the front passes over.
Tuesday 30th September
A wild, windy day with northwesterlies reaching severe gale in exposed areas. Skies will be fairly cloudy, and starting in the afternoon, a cold front dumps about 5-15cm of snow over the Southern Lakes before moving up Canterbury during the evening and night, where Mt Hutt will receive a dusting after a little initial rainfall.
Partly cloudy skies for Mt Ruapehu with westerly winds.
Wednesday 1st October
Skies clear over the Southern Lakes before dawn for a sunny powder day, while cold westerlies ease.
Chilly westerlies also ease over Canterbury, but skies will remain cloudy with light flurries over Mt Hutt until afternoon.
Brisk cool westerlies bring snow showers to Mt Ruapehu during the afternoon and evening.
Thursday 2nd October
Another front from the west brings a period of rain to the NZ ski fields. The rain will be fairly brief for South Island ski fields, and skies will clear up nicely behind the front. Northwest winds will pick up for a time.
The rain on Mt Ruapehu will be a little more drawn out and heavier, and strong westerly winds will be blow a gale in exposed spots.
Friday 3rd October
A fine start for ski fields across the country, but clouds will gradually gather and northerly winds develop as the next storm system approaches from the Tasman Sea. Rain spreads over the country after dark, but it may fall as snow up high for the Southern Lakes.
Extended Forecast
The Tasman storm continues to cross the country this weekend. The roughest conditions are expected on Mt Ruapehu Saturday, October 4, while the South Island may see more manageable weather. A cold southerly change on Sunday, October 5, could deliver a dusting of snow as the system shifts east.
Looking further ahead, stormy westerlies are set to return early next week, bringing several more days of wind, snow, and rain, with only brief spells of sunshine in between.
That’s all from me today, folks. I’m sending out these 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
