TASMAN & SOUTHERN OCEAN FIRING UP OVER THE NEXT 5 DAYS.
QUICK FIRE SUMMARY FOR LOCAL SKI FIELDS.
Photo – Castle Hill Archive photo. Francis Vallance.
Today kick starts our very unsettled and active period of weather in the Tasman with a succession of moisture laden fronts set to make arrival over the next 5-6 days.
While we can expect impressive rainfall totals about the Main Divide & Canterbury Headwaters through until middle stages of next week, we’re closely watching the all-important freezing levels for local ski fields.
While it will be borderline over the next 48 hours at ski base altitudes, we can expect some much-needed snow about upper parts of our local fields; especially near the Main Divide.
Next week will be considerably cooler as winds switch more to the SW. We’re looking at significant snowfall for our western fields Round hill, Ohau and Temple Basin with lighter falls out east on Monday, Tuesday and possibly Wednesday. To give you an idea snow showers may even affect Arthur’s Pass during early stage of the week.
Overall promising signs without anything to spectacular at this current time. Our advice for next week? Our western fields will be looking pretty sharp come Wednesday, Thursday.
FRIDAY
System number 1 will bring rain at times, some heavy falls for the Main Divide & Headwaters. Spill over showers out east. Snow levels look around 1600-1700m about the Main Divide, slightly higher in the east. Heavy snowfall accumulations above 1800-1900m about the Main Divide. Strong nor-west winds may affect operations this afternoon.
SATURDAY
System number 2 will bring more heavy rain and snow about the tops. This system is slightly milder with snow possibly remaining above 1700m. Strong to gale force NW winds will affect all our local fields. Our more western fields may benefit but once again freezing levels are borderline.
SUNDAY
A wild start with strong westerlies and snow showers for our western and eastern ski fields. Conditions easing back through the day. Fresh snow for all our fields, but uncertainty remains on exact snowfall accumulations. Freezing levels will be on point for snow – it’s just whether or not we can lock in some decent moisture. Winds may well affect operations once again; especially before midday.
OUTLOOK.
Western fields you’re in business – much colder air with lowering snow levels on Monday & Tuesday. Healthy ‘accumulations’ likely for Round hill, Ohau and Temple Basin with lighter falls out east. Overall some promising signs but we’re yet to lock in that colder wet southerly with heavy snow for our eastern fields. Out east we have some colder southerlies on Tuesday which may provide some snow about the higher eastern hills and of course our eastern fields.
Hang in there! August is looking more promising and September could well be the month with low pressure anomaly very distinct – perhaps we’ll have our best skiing and snow coverage in Spring.
Don’t forget our Porters & Mt Hutt forecast provide the only moderated 1-7 day forecast available – simply unmatched. No generic computer generated content/numbers.
Keep up to date with town pages and our ‘Live Weather Feed’ for on-going overage and developments.
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