WINTRY OUTBREAK: YOUR QUESTIONS – ANSWERED

Posted on the 17th May by Russell Voice

WINTRY OUTBREAK – 5 FAQ    Updated  2:00pm Saturday afternoon. 20/05/2017

 

 

FAQ no longer valid – Weather on the improve tonight, bar B.P – with strong winds set to continue through until mid morning Sunday.

 

Winter has come early in 2017 & with that, significant interest & numbers. Below is an additional source of information. Check out our town forecasts & CWU ‘Warnings’ & ‘Watches’ for more details.

 

Keep up to date, with Canterbury Weather Updates (Unmatched coverage, intensity, detail & accuracy)

 

 

Will Christchurch see snow? : Low chance: 15-20% between 6pm Saturday & 7am Sunday – as wintry showers push inland slightly.

 

 

 

What areas will bear the brunt? Banks Peninsula looks worst hit, with gales and wintry showers & blizzard conditions above 400-500m. Later today, between 5pm Saturday & 11 am Sunday it will be cold & wintry. Once again, we don’t expect significant rainfall totals, or snow accumulations on Banks Peninsula. In regards to New Zealand, our neighbours in Otago & Southland look set for snow to near sea level, with an extended period of wintry weather. Significant snowfall totals are possible down south, above that 300-400m ‘mark’ in Otago & Southland.

 

 

 

Will our ski fields see snow?  Our ski fields have seen a dusting of snow – nothing significant as forecast. No snow for the next 7 days, at least, with milder temperatures melting all existing snow. We’re still in May, hang in there, those colder longer lasting freezing levels aren’t far away.

 

 

When will this bitterly cold system move way? It’s a fairly prolonged period of cold weather, with this disturbed SW flow set to hang around until Sunday morning. Expect sunny & frosty conditions on Sunday & Monday – severe frosts about inland basins & areas. ‘Lows’ could drop to negative 6-7 about Mt Cook Village Sunday & Monday morning. Take care using our higher roads, with ice and snow likely. Snow & winds will hang around B.P until Sunday mid morning, so coastal parts will have a longer period of wintry weather.

 

 

 

Alpine Roads, what’s the ‘go’?  No issues, for our alpine passes. Dusting of snow, but all roads remain open. Take care.

 

 

Weather Analyst: Russell Voice