It's been with us since last Friday and as we head into Tuesday, more severe

weather is expected across a number of regions.

The government forecaster, MetService, is predicting a risk of more severe

gales and heavy snow in both islands.

As the deep low from the weekend begins to move away, other lows that

normally circle around Antarctica are fuelling the windy, cold, weather over

the lower South Island and driving strong to gale force winds over central

regions of the country, roughly from Canterbury to Taranaki.

More snow is also expected around Southland and Otago and possibly the

Desert Road.

But there is some good news - the severe weather is increasingly becoming

confined to places where it's more normal.

At this time of the year, it's not uncommon to see winds gusting to 130km/h

at Castlepoint in Taranaki or winds on the Hauraki Gulf sustained at gale

force.  Over the next few days, we will see the severe weather becoming

confined to places where it's more normal and less severe weather in our

main centres.

Even the snow flurries and sleet in Southland should be more at a 'normal'

level for September over the next couple of days.

And while more weather warnings are likely, the worst of this severe weather

event is behind us.  The worst was certainly on Friday and Saturday so we

will gradually see things calming down over the rest of the working week.

That shouldn't detract from any warnings or watches though - they should

still be taken seriously if you live in an affected region, especially

in Southland as snow events can change very quickly.