🌤️ The Week Ahead – Snowfall on the horizon?
📍 Significant Weather Outlook | ❄️ Try Snow Cast with code 25OFF
As we begin the first full week of August, a large block of high pressure remains firmly parked over much of New Zealand, bringing mostly settled and stable conditions to the country. Expect clear skies, crisp air, and cold frosty mornings—especially across inland and southern regions. Some areas could see widespread -3°C to -6°C lows, with icy conditions possible on untreated roads early in the day.
While this calm spell is ideal for winter sunrises and still days, things are expected to change later in the week.
🌧️ Incoming Front & Weather Shift
From Thursday into Friday, a front is forecast to move up the South Island, delivering a period of rain, particularly across the West Coast and lower/eastern regions. This front will be followed by a cooler southerly change, bringing colder air, and we’re currently keeping a close eye on the potential for snow at higher elevations from late Friday into Saturday.
At this stage, uncertainty remains high in terms of snow levels and accumulation—but for those planning to travel through alpine passes (such as the Lindis, Lewis, or Arthur’s), or elevated inland areas of Otago, Canterbury or Marlborough, we recommend keeping a close watch on the latest updates.
❗ Stay Updated with Our Significant Weather Outlook
We’re monitoring this evolving system closely and will provide ongoing updates via our Significant Weather Outlook—a free resource updated daily to keep you ahead of any impactful weather developments.
As seen in our Weather Risk Index, which calculates the risk of adverse weather for a certain time period (8th-9th August), showing an elevated atleast 30% risk of heavy rain in the west and north of the South Island, and a risk of Inland Snow above 500 metres across much of the interior.
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For those wanting even more precision and long-range detail, our Snow Cast product is your best tool for tracking snow chances, elevation-specific timing, and custom forecasts for ski fields and high-country roads, plus right now, we’re offering an exclusive 25% OFF with code 25OFF – just head to sima.co.nz/snowcast. This offer is for a Full Winter Subscription with no recurring payments, and includes all the tools you need to plan your mountain missions or prepare for potential disruptions.
What you need to know:
Early week: High pressure dominates → cold starts, mostly sunny days
Late week: Rain arrives Thurs/Fri, southerlies follow
Friday–Saturday: Watch for snow risk above 500–800m – updates ongoing
Travelers: Plan ahead and check our daily outlooks before heading out
Sima.co.nz
