New Zealand Forecast – Bumpy Road Ahead As Weather Systems Quickly Cycle Through
Published early Wednesday, 9th July 2025
We’ve had a nice couple of days, but it’s a bumpy road ahead in the land of the long white cloud. First, a front from the west will bring a bit of rain and strong northerly winds to the country today, Wednesday. Northerlies will continue through Thursday, and then become strong on Friday as a more powerful front hits, bringing heavy rain. Mt Ruapehu will take another hammering, setting ski fields there back another big step. However, cooler northwesterlies this weekend will see snow showers gradually lowering to mid to lower slopes at most ski fields.
Wednesday 9th July
Scattered rain will spill over the South Island’s Main Divide for a large chunk of the day, as a front from the west passes over. Those ski resorts closest to the Divide, such as Treble Cone and Temple Basin will see more than those farther east. Snow could fall about the tops, but temperatures will be marginal for that to happen at ski fields in the east. Northerly winds will be strong in exposed areas.
Mt Ruapehu will see rain at times, which may fall as snow about the tops late in the day, along with a northerly breeze.
Thursday 10th July
Mostly cloudy for the Southern Lakes, with showers of rain and high-level snow on Treble Cone. A few light showers will likely spread farther east to the other resorts for a time too. Northerly winds.
For Canterbury, Mt Hutt will be mostly sunny, but it’ll be cloudier for ski fields closer to the Main Divide, with a few showers of rain and high level snow for those closest to it. Northwest winds.
A northerly breeze on Mt Ruapehu will push in cloud and a little drizzle, reducing visibility especially about the lower elevations.
Friday 11th July
A tough day as another, more powerful front from the west brings another bout of rain to the country, starting first thing in the morning on Mt Ruapehu, and then later in the morning for Canterbury and in the afternoon for the Southern Lakes. The rain will build into heavy falls later, especially on Mt Ruapehu where it’ll bucket down, and some dense snow may fall about the tops of South Island ski fields before it eases there at night. Strong north-to-northeast winds over the country will blow like mad on Mt Ruapehu as well.
Saturday 12th July
South Island ski fields will be mostly cloudy, especially those closest to the Main Divide, such as Treble Cone and Temple Basin, where there’ll also be showers of rain and mid-upper level snow. Northwest winds.
Heavy rain on Mt Ruapehu eases back to showers before dawn as a moderate northwest wind change goes through. The showers will gradually turn to snow about the upper slopes during the day as cooler air arrives.
Sunday 13th July
A partly cloudy, partly sunny day for South Island ski fields with northwest winds. There’ll also be a dusting of snow on mid and upper slopes at night.
Snow showers on mid and upper slopes of Mt Ruapehu will lower to base levels late. Brisk northwest winds.
Extended Forecast
Next week, the pattern remains active and fast-moving. A couple of weak fronts early in the week will bring a mix of snow and low-level rain, before a stronger storm system mid-week likely gives us more rain than snow. A colder change later in the week may give us a bigger and better shot of powder, which will be greatly appreciated after a fairly mild period.
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 Friday.
Grasshopper
