Brief Mountain Forecast for all New Zealand

North Island

Valid for Wednesday, 21-Jan

Tararua Forest Park: Mostly cloudy with a few showers, turning to rain Wednesday evening. Remaining North Island Mountain Areas: Periods of rain, heavy at times. WINDS: Northeasterly gale rising to severe gale in exposed places on Wednesday.

Freezing Level: Above 3000 metres.

Valid for Thursday, 22-Jan

Rain, some heavy and possibly thundery, easing to isolated showers later. WINDS:Gale to severe gale northerlies, turning strong-to-gale westerly.

Freezing Level: Above 4000 metres.

Valid for Friday, 23-Jan

Scattered showers, some possibly heavy in the east later. WINDS:Strong to gale westerlies.

Freezing Level: Above 4000 metres, lowering to 3000 metres in the northeast and 2400 metres in the south and west.

Valid for Saturday, 24-Jan

Scattered showers. WINDS:Strong to gale southwesterlies.

Freezing Level: 3000 metres in the northeast sloping to 2400 metres in the south and west. lowering to 2000 metres everywhere.

Issued: 2:01pm Tuesday 20 Jan 2026

South Island

Valid for Wednesday, 21-Jan

Kahurangi to Nelson Lakes National Parks: Fine with high cloud, then rain developing overnight and early Wednesday morning, possibly heavy. Kaikoura Ranges: Partly cloudy with isolated showers on Tuesday, mainly near the coast. Occasional rain developing Wednesday morning, possibly heavy. Arthur's Pass to Fiordland National Parks: Mainly fine on Tuesday, then becoming cloudy with scattered rain from Wednesday morning or afternoon, possibly heavy. WINDS: Easterlies, rising to strong or gale northeasterlies northwest of Arthur's Pass.

Freezing Level: Above 3500 metres.

Valid for Thursday, 22-Jan

Rain, some heavy, possibly thundery, easing to scattered showers. WINDS:Northerlies, severe gale in the north for a time, turning southwesterly in the evening.

Freezing Level: About 3500 metres.

Valid for Friday, 23-Jan

Scattered showers, possibly heavy. WINDS:Strong to gale southerlies.

Freezing Level: 4000 metres in the north sloping to 3000 metres in the south, lowering to 1800 metres in the north and 1200 metres in the south.

Valid for Saturday, 24-Jan

Periods of rain about Fiordland. Scattered showers elsewhere. WINDS:Strong to gale southerlies.

Freezing Level: 1800 metres in the north sloping to 1200 metres in the south, rising to to about 1900 metres everywhere.

Issued: 2:01pm Tuesday 20 Jan 2026