28 Jul 2017

Cool, clear weekend ahead for South Island

8:20 pm on 28 July 2017

Showers and snow today is expected to make way for cool and clear weather for most of the South Island over the weekend.

Canterbury Plains as seen from Mt Hutt.

Canterbury Plains as seen from Mt Hutt. Photo: Wikicommons

MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said Christchurch is still experiencing some showers this afternoon but further south it's a lot drier and clearer.

"We've had a front go through and there's some lingering showers in behind it but it is clearing from the south. So Christchurch will see it clearing later on today but places further south like Dunedin and inland are already seeing some pretty blue skies."

But that doesn't mean it won't be cold tonight.

"There's a good chance of frost on the roads in some places where there are some lingering showers, like north of Christchurch, that spells a recipe for black ice, where you get sub-zero temperatures, so that's something to be careful of out there."

Mr Adams said that people will notice it's a nice cool but clear weekend, with plenty of clear skies and very cold temperatures.

"Aside from a few showers that'll be retreating to the East Coast of the North Island, it'll be dry for most people.''

"It looks like the good weather has been saved for the weekend."

Mr Adams said it will get cold tonight and Saturday night but nothing unusual for this time of the year.

"It'll be cold but no record breakers."

He said people should get out and make the most of the fine weather.

"The rain is going to return at some point next week."

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