The relatively dry winter conditions are set to continue for coastal Waitaki.

We've had less than 4mls of rain in the last 3 weeks and up the valley Omarama there's been 33.2 mls. The last decent spell of rain for Ōamaru was between the 20th & 24th of July when 72.6 mls fell over 5 days.

Looking forward, there’s not a lot of precipitation forecast for the Waitaki region. 

However due to an unstable westerly flow covering much of the country today, there is the faint possibility (low risk) of thunderstorms about Dunedin and North Otago this evening (Tuesday 15th).

So the good news is that fairly settled weather is on the cards for most of the week, with the forecast highs for Ōamaru likely to be around 11 deg C for the next 4 days, with lows between 1 and 4 C.

Metservice forecast graphic: Ōamaru.

Tomorrow (Wednesday 16th) is looking partly cloudy with the odd shower possible, and southerlies developing. 

Thursday will be fine, with northerlies developing in the afternoon. Friday should be a repeat of Thursday - fine with northerlies. 

At this stage, the forecast for coastal Waitaki this coming weekend is looking pretty good, with dry sunny conditions.

For Omarama, the forecast today (Tuesday 15th) is for cloudy periods and scattered showers, falling as snow above 500m about the Mackenzie basin. Please note the Road Snowfall Warning for the Lindis Pass below, valid Tuesday 15th-Wednesday 16th August.

Period: 26hrs from 10am Tue, 15 Aug - noon Wed, 16 Aug

Area: Lindis Pass (SH8)

Forecast: A few snow flurries possible to 500 metres until early afternoon, but little, if any snow is expected to settle on the road. Note, another period of snow to 500 metres is possible during Wednesday morning and may affect the road north of Lindis Pass, and 1 to 3 cm may accumulate on the road.

For Wednesday, it’ll be partly cloudy with isolated showers becoming widespread in the morning, clearing the Mackenzie basin by the evening. Snow may be possible down to 500 metres at times.

Metservice forecast graphic: Omarama.

Thursday and Friday are looking very similar, with fine sunny conditions and light winds. 

The weekend isn’t looking too good at this stage - overcast with rain developing on Saturday, and then fine with rain developing again on Sunday .

For the latest updated forecasts and real time conditions in your local area, click on the Waitaki towns below, or go to the Weather category, next to News|Sport in The Waitaki App!

Oamaru

Weston

Kakanui

Hampden

Palmerston

Macraes

Ngapara

Duntroon

Kurow

Otematata

Omarama

Lake Ohau Alpine Village