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Storm WatchWatching

Late-October Tasman System

1 resort in the path, 0cm at the biggest. Watching — the models see it but do not yet agree closely.

0CM

Predicted at Whakapapa

Storm

Oct 28–Nov 1

1 resort in the path

Predicted

0cm

Whakapapa

Confidence

Watching

Updated

Oct 22, 18:30 UTC

S

SnowSure Forecaster

Written from the blend and the model spread · updated Oct 22, 18:30 UTC

Current prediction: 0cm for Whakapapa between 2026-10-28 and 2026-11-01, 0cm our central figure. Whakapapa is the only resort clearing our threshold so far. Confidence is watching: the signal has crossed our threshold but the models still disagree on how much. On day one we said 32cm for Whakapapa; that is the number we are measured against. These figures are re-read from the latest model blend; each entry in the log keeps what we said at the time.

Forecast log

Every entry, newest first. Nothing is overwritten.

  1. Day 3·Oct 22·Watching·46cm(+13)

    Day 3: totals up 13cm, 0–125cm for Whakapapa

    Day 3: totals up 13cm at Whakapapa, the window moved 1 day earlier. Current prediction: 0–125cm for Whakapapa between 2026-10-28 and 2026-11-01, 46cm our central figure. The biggest day is 2026-10-30 at 19cm. Whakapapa is the only resort clearing our threshold so far. Confidence is watching: the signal has crossed our threshold but the models still disagree on how much. On day one we said 32cm from 2026-10-29; that is the number we are measured against. What to watch next: whether the models hold the window, whether the low tracks closer to the core resorts, and the freezing level in the days before it arrives. 6 days to go.

    Window Oct 28–Nov 1 · Whakapapa

  2. Day 2·Oct 21·Watching·33cm(+1)

    Day 2: call holds, 8–72cm for Whakapapa

    Day 2: totals held at Whakapapa, the window held, confidence moved from likely to watching. Current prediction: 8–72cm for Whakapapa between 2026-10-29 and 2026-10-31, 33cm our central figure. The biggest day is 2026-10-31 at 17cm. Whakapapa is the only resort clearing our threshold so far. Confidence is watching: the signal has crossed our threshold but the models still disagree on how much. On day one we said 32cm from 2026-10-29; that is the number we are measured against. What to watch next: whether the models hold the window, whether the low tracks closer to the core resorts, and the freezing level in the days before it arrives. 8 days to go.

    Window Oct 29–31 · Whakapapa

  3. Day 1·Oct 20·Likely·32cmFirst prediction

    Late-October Tasman System: 31.6cm for Whakapapa, 5–73.7cm range

    THE PREDICTION: From October 29 to 31, we expect Whakapapa to receive 31.6cm of snow, with a range of 5–73.7cm. This forecast is based on current model trends that suggest a favorable pattern for snowfall across the region. Whakapapa is likely to see the most significant accumulation, particularly on October 30, when we anticipate a peak of 14.7cm. Other resorts may not experience the same level of snowfall, potentially missing out on substantial totals. Changes in atmospheric conditions or model discrepancies could alter this prediction, but for now, confidence remains likely.

    Window Oct 29–31 · Whakapapa

Snow by day

Oct 27 – Nov 2, with a day either side. For each resort: where the freeze line sits against the mountain, then what falls — snow in cm, rain in mm — and the day read from those two numbers.

Whakapapabase 1,630 m · summit 2,300 m

0cm snow

Modelled at the summit, 2,300 m

Freeze
line
m
Snow
/ rain
cm · mm
summit 2,300 mbase 1,630 m1,7142,0492,3001

Tue

Oct 27

—

Wed

Oct 28

—

Thu

Oct 29

—

Fri

Oct 30

—

Sat

Oct 31

Dry

Sun

Nov 1

Dry

Mon

Nov 2

Rain

How the call moved-32cm
320Day 1Day 3

dry through the window

snowrain low, snow highraindryThe dots are the freeze line — the height where rain turns to snow. Solid: straight from the models. Hollow: estimated from temperature. Above the summit line it rains on the whole mountain; below the base line it snows all the way down. Blue bars are snow in cm, amber bars rain in mm; the totals above are their sums.

Rain / snow line

Base to summit for each mountain, with the snow line cut across them.

Snow line against every mountain in Late-October Tasman System

Enlarge rain / snow line

The system

700mb flow — where the storm is, and what is steering it. Pins sized by forecast total.

700mb flow map for Late-October Tasman System

72-hour snowfall forecast for the same window.

Loading forecast map…
new-zealand 72h snowfall forecast — Snowsure

In the path

Forecast, not observation — none of this has fallen yet. Totals are across the window. We will post what fell when the window closes.

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Last updated 2026-10-23 00:30 UTC. SnowSure scans a blend of seven weather models twice daily and flags systems clearing 30cm over 72 hours, three to fourteen days out. This watch opened on 2026-10-21 with 33cm forecast at Whakapapa.