MetService is forecasting unsettled weather and strong winds for most during the coming week, with a brief reprieve on Wednesday.

This afternoon (Monday) a strong southwest change will begin muscling its way over New Zealand, bringing rain to western and southern regions.

Snow is expected to lower to 500 metres in the deep south later this afternoon.

MetService has issued Road Snowfall Warnings for many roads in the South Island.

Lewis Pass (SH7)

Snow is expected to settle on the road Tuesday morning and early afternoon. Expect 3 to 4 cm to accumulate above 800 metres, with lesser amounts down to 600 metres.

Arthur’s Pass (SH73)

Snow is expected to settle on the road from tonight until Tuesday morning. Expect 2 to 4 cm to accumulate above 800 metres, with lesser amounts down to 600 metres. Note, most of the snow is expected through until about 2am Tuesday, then just the odd snow shower possible until late Tuesday morning.

Porters Pass (SH73)

Snow is expected to settle on the road during Tuesday morning. Expect 8 to 12 cm to accumulate above 700 metres, with lesser amounts down to 500 metres.

Haast Pass (SH6)

Snow is expected to briefly settle on the road overnight tonight. Expect 1 to 2 cm to accumulate about the summit of the road.

Lindis Pass (SH8)

Snow is expected to settle on the road from this evening until Tuesday morning. Expect 5 to 10 cm to accumulate above 800 metres, with lesser amounts down to 500 metres.

MetService meteorologist Alwyn Bakker said the southwest change pushes over the remainder of the country on Tuesday.

A Strong Wind Watch has been issued for Northland, Auckland, and parts of the Coromandel.

Bakker said “between 3 am and 4 pm on Tuesday, southwesterly winds have the potential to reach severe gale in exposed places.”

Rain or showers are expected for most, with snow lowering to 900 metres in parts of the North Island, and to 400 or 500 metres in Canterbury and Otago.

The strong southwesterlies will whip up some large waves, with the west coast of Northland, Auckland, and the Waikato seeing four to six metres waves for a time on Tuesday.

Later in the day, and overnight into Wednesday, the east coast of the North Island from the Wairarapa to Gisborne will pick up southerly waves of around five metres for a time.

After the southwest change, a brief ridge is set to move over the country on Wednesday. The high pressure grants a small reprieve from the unsettled weather, so if you’ve got any washing piling up, Wednesday’s the best of a bad lot. The fine weather won’t last long, however, as another frontal feature tracks across Aotearoa on Thursday, bringing more rain or showers.