New Zealand sees rare snowfall in Wellington as Antarctic cold front hits

A polar air front from Antarctica moved over New Zealand on Tuesday, causing a sharp temperature drop nationwide. In Wellington, the capital, snow fell for the first time in 15 years, prompting surprise and excitement among residents. In the southern city of Dunedin, streets were covered in snow, with many people taking to skis and snowboards. Schools in Dunedin were closed as the weather persisted into Friday morning. The coldest area recorded was the Rangipo Desert stretch of State Highway 1, where temperatures fell to –10.6 °C.

The unusual weather event was reported by the New Zealand MetService and highlighted by international media, noting the rarity of snowfall in the capital and the public’s enthusiastic response.