Weatherwatch. July 28
New Zealand’s MetService issued a “Heavy Snow Watch,” for parts of New Zealand’s South Island for the early part of the last week ending July.
“‘Persistent’ and cold easterlies are expected over the southern South Island from Monday, bringing heavy rain and possible heavy snow above 500 meters to Otago and Southland,” reported 1 News, on July 27 ahead of the pending storm. “MetService issued a heavy snow watch from 3pm on Monday to 6am on Tuesday for inland areas of Otago and Southland, including eastern Fiordland.”
Weatherwatch explains that a collision of two high pressure systems, one a tropical system lingering from the north, and one “a high pressure zone south of NZ … injecting the subantarctic portion of wintry air into this low (and into southern NZ),” the a latter system also being fed by a large low pressure system out of the Tasmanian Sea, are creating perfect conditions for cold temperatures and severe storms, dumping snow a mid-to-higher elevations and heavy rain in the lowlands.
The main severe weather risk is expected from Monday, July 29 through Thursday August 1, while the coldest temperatures are forecast for July 30.
In anticipation of severe winter storms, the MetService has issued winter weather watches for parts of the South Island.
Reporting on the pending winter storm, The Press writes, that the Lindis Pass area near Christchurch is expecting as much as 5 cm of snow to accumulate on the roads on Monday, with more snow expected to fall and stick on Tuesday as the temperatures dip to their lowest levels for the week. Crown Road and Milford Road, both in Christchurch are, are forecast to receive between 10 to15 cm and 3 to 6cm, respectively through July 30.
The MetService is warning travel during the week could be dangerous due to heavy rain, at lower elevations and snow in the mountains. In addition, it says that sheep herders should take care because, as Weatherwatch reports “[w]ith early lambing season already underway in parts of NZ, the wet, windy and cold weather can be deadly.”