Wanaka weather has swung from around five degrees above January averages to seven-to-eight degrees below those averages in just a few days. 

Fortunately, it is due to swing back to warm and sunny by the time the weekend hits.

After reaching a high of 29.4 degrees on Friday (January 14) temperatures dropped as low as 9.5 degrees in Wanaka township during the day yesterday (Monday January 18), with Cardrona Alpine Resort experiencing snowfall that closed its summer services. 

Metservice meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said the cold, wet front that hit Wanaka on Monday night was combined with a cut-off low in the high levels of the atmosphere, and winds coming in from the Southern oceans brought the chill to the air.

The beach crowds had dried up on Tuesday. PHOTO: Wanaka App

“Because of the wind flow and circulation [the cold front] is drawing quite a lot of the air from the Southern oceans,” she said. “That comes right off the Antarctic Ocean so it is very cold air.”

Mmathapelo said snowfall could get as low as 800-900 metres above sea level before it starts to lift in the second half of Wednesday (January 20). 

A busker finds himself a dry spot during the rain. PHOTO: Wanaka App

After that, cold air is due to start moving north and the freezing level will rise to approximately 1000m on Thursday, but we can expect cold southerly winds - although less rain - throughout the day.

“The first signs of those temperatures getting back to January averages is Friday,” Mmathapelo said, “so there should be a decent weekend to look forward to.”

The weather is due to warm up from Friday onwards. PHOTO: Wanaka App

Other parts of the country had also seen a sharp swing downwards, like North Island town Taumarunui which dropped from around 30 degrees down to 18 degrees, Mmathapelo said.

Earlier in the month Invercargill temperatures had dropped to the mid tens, she added.

“I’d say these cold temperatures are probably unseasonable but not unheard of. Big swings like this we would expect in the transition seasons - like the autumn months and spring months, but not so much in summer.”

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