Get your outdoor chores and activities done on Saturday if you can.

Another long weekend (we love ’em!) and it’s also the first weekend of meteorological winter. Unfortunately the forecast for most of it is going to be…well, more wintery.

On the Waitaki coast Friday is looking nice and fine, with westerlies and a high of 16, dropping to a nippy 4 degrees tonight. Saturday is the pick of the long weekend, fine with light winds but cooler temperature wise with a high of 12 degrees. Cloud will build in the evening, with the overnight low falling to around 5 degrees.

Sunday will see occasional rain developing in the morning with northerly winds changing to fresh southwesterlies. Daytime temperatures will fall further with a high of just 10 degrees.

At this stage Monday's forecast is for occasional rain, clearing in the afternoon but remaining cloudy with fresh southerlies easing later in the day.   

MetService forecast graphic: Oamaru

East of the divide, Omarama is looking fine and cool today with westerly winds, down to -1 tonight. Saturday looks very similar, with northwest winds developing in the evening.

On Sunday, rain will build early on with snow possible to 1600 metres, lowering to 900 metres. Northwesterlies will ease later in the day to light southerlies. 

MetService forecast graphic: Omarama

Monday looks much the same, with overcast skies and rain developing, falling as snow to 1200 metres, lifting to 1700 metres later. Highs on Sunday and Monday will be around 7 degrees, falling to 0 overnight.

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

Oamaru

Palmerston

Duntroon

Omarama