Snow orange warning issued as heavy rain, strong winds batter South Island

Saturday, 4 July 2026

Things are about to get wet and windy nationwide.

The South Island is being lashed by severe weather on Saturday.

Orange warnings have been issued.

NZTA has warned that the biggest snowfall of the winter so far is looming for early next week.

The South Island is bearing the brunt on Saturday as severe weather approaches from the west, bringing heavy rain, gusts of up to 130kph and “the biggest snowfalls of the winter so far”.

A heavy snow orange warning has been issued for Otago, excluding coastal areas, and northern Southland from 6am Sunday to 6am Monday.

MetService has forecast snow is expected to develop Sunday morning, possibly as low as 200m.

“Above 400m, expect over 15cm of snow to accumulate, with 10cm possible in 3 to 4 hours.

“Snow accumulations below 600 metres could reach 25 to 30cm but may exceed 1m above 800m altitude, especially south of Queenstown to Middlemarch.”

MetService has issued severe weather warnings for the South Island on Saturday.

MetService has urged those in the area to prepare for snow, cold temperatures and possible power outages.

“If you must travel, drive cautiously, and ensure you have snow chains, sleeping bags, warm clothing and emergency items.”

Heavy rain orange warnings are in place for Fiordland and north of Doubtful Sound until 2pm, the ranges of Westland until 10pm, headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers south of Arthur’s Pass until 9pm and the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers until 4pm.

Coastal Otago is under a heavy rain orange warning from 6am Sunday to 9am Monday.

An strong wind orange warning has also been issued for Canterbury High Country from 9am to 9pm Saturday, with severe northwest gusts reaching 130kph in exposed places.

Fiordland south of Doubtful Sound is under a heavy rain watch until late Saturday morning.

Snowfall expected for parts of South Island

Snow is a risk on inland roads in the South Island early next week (file photo).

NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) said the “biggest snowfalls of the winter so far” could be looming for alpine passes and inland state highways in Canterbury early next week.

“Snow is expected to arrive from Sunday and to have its biggest impact Monday/Tuesday, according to forecasts supplied to New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi,” a spokesperson said.

The snow forecast can mean state highway closures, restrictions and an urgency to plan and prepare as the school holidays get underway.

The South Island is bearing the brunt on Saturday as severe weather approaches from the west with heavy rain, gusts up to 130kph and even snowfall expected.

NZTA said there is up to 20cm of snow forecast to fall in the Porters Pass (State Highway 73) and Lewis Pass (State Highway 7) areas on Monday.

“While there is a risk of 10-plus cm in the Burkes Pass to Lake Tekapo area in the Mackenzie Basin on Tuesday.”

A road snowfall warnings has already been issued by MetService on Saturday for Milford Road (SH94) from 10pm until 8am Sunday.

Rain is expected to turn to snow near the summit on Saturday night and about 2 to 5 cm of snow is forecast to accumulate.

North Island not out of the woods

Earth Sciences NZ (ESNZ) meteorologist Chris Brandalino said there was concern for the upper South Island and lower North Island on Monday.

“It may not be the entire area but that’s the zone of concern,” he said.

Brandalino told Stuff the weather system expected on Monday had the potential to be “a high impact rain event,” with some places possibly getting double their monthly rainfall over a few days.

“When that happens it’s a harbinger of potential trouble,” he said.