Brief Mountain Forecast for all New Zealand

North Island

Valid for Monday, 22-Dec

Cloudy periods with the odd shower, clearing this morning. Showers returning later this afternoon, becoming more frequent in the evening, and turning to rain at night. WINDS: Westerlies, rising to gale this evening.

Freezing Level: 3000 metres sloping to 2500 metres in the south, rising above 3000 metres everywhere this morning.

Valid for Tuesday, 23-Dec

Cloudy periods with showers developing this afternoon, turning to rain tomorrow with heavy falls. Rain easing for a time south of Whirinaki Forest Park tomorrow afternoon and evening. WINDS: Strong westerlies rising to severe gale about the tops overnight tonight.

Freezing Level: Above 3000 metres.

Valid for Wednesday, 24-Dec

Rain or showers, easing in the afternoon. WINDS:Strong westerlies, gale in exposed places. Westerlies rising to severe gale in the south later.

Freezing Level: Above 3000 metres.

Valid for Thursday, 25-Dec

Fine north of Tongariro National Park. Partly cloudy elsewhere with isolated showers in the south and west. WINDS:Westerlies, gale in Tararua Forest Park. Westerlies becoming strong elsewhere in the evening.

Freezing Level: Above 3000 metres.

Valid for Friday, 26-Dec

Scattered rain or showers spreading from the west. WINDS:Strong to gale northwesterlies, possibly rising to severe gale in exposed places in the south.

Freezing Level: Above 3000 metres, lowering to 2200 metres in the south late

Issued: 2:27pm Monday 22 Dec 2025

South Island

Valid for Monday, 22-Dec

Kahurangi National Park to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, also Mt Richmond and Kaikoura Ranges: Fine at first with increasing high cloud. Rain developing from late this afternoon or evening. Some heavy falls from the evening. Mt Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks: Becoming cloudy this morning. Rain developing in the afternoon, possibly heavy, then easing in the evening. WINDS: Light winds at first. Northwesterlies developing later this morning, rising to gale in exposed places late this afternoon, and severe gale south of Mt Cook in the evening.

Freezing Level: Around 3000 metres rising to above 3500 metres tomorrow evening.

Valid for Tuesday, 23-Dec

Kahurangi National Park to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, also Mt Richmond and Kaikoura Ranges: Rain developing, heavy in places, before easing Tuesday morning. Mt Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks: Rain, possibly heavy, clearing Tuesday morning, but showers developing late evening. WINDS: Northwesterlies, rising to severe gale in exposed places this evening, before easing on Tuesday.

Freezing Level: Above 3500 metres, lowering to 2100 metres about and south of aoraki/mt cook tuesday evening.

Valid for Wednesday, 24-Dec

Isolated showers about Kaikoura and Richmond Ranges. Rain elsewhere, possibly heavy in the west, easing later. WINDS:Gale westerlies, rising to severe gale in the north.

Freezing Level: 3000 metres, sloping to 2000 metres in the south.

Valid for Thursday, 25-Dec

Rain, heavy at times in the west. WINDS:Gale northwesterlies, but severe gale in exposed places in the north.

Freezing Level: 3000 metres, sloping to 2000 metres in the south.

Valid for Friday, 26-Dec

Scattered showers, possibly heavy in the west. Showers clearing about Kaikoura and Richmond Ranges later. WINDS:Gale westerlies, possibly severe gale in the north at first, all easing.

Freezing Level: Lowering to 2000 metres in the north and 1500 metres in the south.

Issued: 2:27pm Monday 22 Dec 2025