A strong westerly airstream flows over the south Tasman Sea and from coastal Southland southwards. Some cold air still lies to the south of the South Island but is moving eastwards now in this strong westerly airstream and will not move any further northwards. A cold front lies south of Stewart Island but is weakening and should weaken even further as it moves northwards over the lower South Island later today with showers in western districts only. Westerly gales are expected along the south coast and through to southeastern Otago. An anticyclone extends from south of Australia, across Tasmania and into the north and central Tasman Sea. It extends a ridge of high pressure across the North island where fine weather prevails. Westerlies will prevail over the south of the South Island through until Tuesday when another cold front will move through Southland and Otago later in the day. Ahead of this front a strong northwesterly airstream will prevail with colder southerlies and a few showers following it.

Forecast for the Southern Lakes and Central Otago for today is for mainly cloudy skies but dry away from the western ranges where occasional rain will prevail. Freshening westerly winds, becoming strong or gale force in exposed positions. Temperatures mild. Maximum temperatures recorded yesterday were Queenstown 18.1 degrees. Arrowtown 16.1 degrees. Kinloch 17.4 degrees. Wanaka 16.6 degrees. Kingston 15.3 degrees. Forecast upper level winds for today at 1000 metres northwesterly gusting 90 kph in exposed places. At 2000 metres severe gale westerlies 100 kph. Freezing level rising to 2800 metres. Forecast maximum temperatures for today for Queenstown, Wanaka and the Upper Clutha 21 degrees. For Kingston 22 degrees. For Glenorchy 20 degrees. For Cromwell and Alexandra 23 degrees.

Tomorrow mainly fine apart from cloud morning and night. The odd, isolated shower is still possible about the far western ranges. Moderate westerly winds dying away in all but exposed areas. Mild or warm temperatures.

Monday fine again in all districts except the western ranges where rain will develop later in the day. North to northwesterly winds increasing to fresh and gusty, and strong in exposed places. Temperatures warm.

Tuesday cloudy with widespread rain about the western ranges and occasional showers spreading further east to other districts during the day. North to northwest winds increasing further, becoming strong or gale force in many places. Still warm.

An active cold front bringing some very cold weather is moving over central parts of the country this morning and should cross most of the North Island today. Ahead of the front gale northwesterlies prevail in many parts of the southern North Island while behind the front an unseasonably cold block of wintry weather has moved over the South Island with snow to low levels on the mountains. An anticyclone west of Tasmania is pushing a ridge of high pressure eastwards into the south Tasman Sea and this ridge should move further onto southern South Island districts during the day with fine weather. The anticyclone should move into the central Tasman Sea over the weekend and become slow moving with westerlies developing over southern districts but fine weather prevailing. During the early part of next week another active front should be moving towards the lower South Island, probably affecting these districts about Tuesday.

Forecast for the Southern Lakes and Central Otago for today is for cloudy skies at first with a few snow showers still likely about the mountains but clearing to fine weather by about midday. Moderate to fresh southwesterly winds gradually decreasing. Still very unseasonably cold. Maximum temperatures recorded yesterday were Queenstown 23.0 degrees. Arrowtown 23.2 degrees. Kinloch 19.3 degrees. Wanaka 22.4 degreees. Kingston 24.2 degrees.. Forecast upper level winds for today at 1000 metres southwesterly 40 kph. At 2000 metres southwesterlies 60 kph, Freezing level 1200 metres gradually rising to 2200 metres. Forecast maximum temperatures for today for Queenstown, Wanaka and the Upper Clutha 14 degrees. For Kingston and Glenorchy 13 degrees. For Cromwell and Alexandra 15 degrees.

Tomorrow becoming cloudy in western districts with some rain about the western ranges but remaining fine elsewhere. Westerly winds freshening during the day and temperatures becoming milder.

Sunday and Monday continuing mainly fine but with increasing cloud on Monday and freshening northerly winds. Back to seasonably average temperatures again.