Those waiting for a decent snowfall may be disappointed if National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) meteorologist Seth Carrier is correct in his forecast for snowfall over the next two months.

Seth says westerly or southwesterly winds are likely, bringing above-average temperatures.

“Although occasional fronts coming from the Southern Ocean will produce short, sharp cold spells (similar to this week) as we go through the next one to two months, westerly or southwesterly winds are generally favoured,” he said. 

“This will likely result in above-average temperatures overall.”  

Seth said the cold fronts coming from the south will present the best opportunity for snowfall in the Wānaka region, although snowfall amounts “may not be particularly impressive”.

Local ski fields saw a smattering of snow in July with temperatures near average for late April or early October.

“The warmest temperature recorded so far in July at Wanaka Airport was 15.1°C on Friday, July 14. This was closely followed by 15.0°C on July 18 and 14.9°C on July 15,” Seth said.

“Certainly these temperatures are well above the normal July maximum temperature at Wānaka which is 8.1°C. 

“That being said, they are actually not particularly close to being record-setting.”

Seth said the warmest July temperature observed at Wānaka (since 1971) was 17.2°C on July 9 1987. 

“The temperatures observed in [July] are actually well outside the top-10 warmest July temperatures at Wānaka,” he said.

This week's southerly change has seen temperatures return to near average and delivered eight centimetres of snow to Cardrona Alpine Resort on Thursday (July 27) morning.

The next snowfall is forecast for early to mid next week.

PHOTO: Cardrona Alpine Resort