New Zealand's summer is set to be rudely interrupted with severe gales, rain and snow as two storms in the Southern Ocean track near to the country. The storms will dredge up an incredibly cold change for summer, with daytime highs unlikely to reach double digits in some places. New Zealand's location means we do sometimes get a sudden dramatic cold change in summer - but WeatherWatch said this one is more potent than most and it comes with severe gales. Snow flurries will start on the Southern Alps were forecast overnight and today, and heavier snow was likely with the mid-week southerly change. Waves of over 12m are expected to crash into the lower half of the South Island's West Coast by mid week and big swells will spread up the west and south of both main islands.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 16, 2021 19:52 UTC