Next 3 days weather summary:Mild with moderate rain (total 16.0mm) on Sun morning, Becoming colder with a light covering of snow, mostly falling on Sun morning. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 4°C on Tue afternoon, min -5°C on Sun night). Winds decreasing (strong winds from the WNW on Sun morning, calm by Tue night). | Days 4-6 weather summary:Mostly dry. Very mild (max 10°C on Fri afternoon, min 2°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||
Sunday 27 | Monday 28 | Tuesday 29 | Wednesday 30 | Thursday 1 | Friday 2 | |||||||||||||
AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
 |  |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | | | | | | | | | |
mod. snow | snow shwrs | snow shwrs | light snow | light snow | light snow | some clouds | some clouds | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | clear | |
km/h | ||||||||||||||||||
Snow map |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
 cm | 6 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
mm | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
max °C | 3 | -2 | -3 | -1 | -1 | -2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 5 |
min °C | -2 | -3 | -5 | -2 | -1 | -3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 7 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 4 |
chill °C | -9 | -7 | -10 | -8 | -7 | -7 | -3 | 0 | -2 | 4 | 3 | -1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Humid % | 97 | 79 | 87 | 90 | 86 | 89 | 75 | 71 | 80 | 72 | 61 | 49 | 20 | 54 | 54 | 73 | 59 | 31 |
Freeze m | 2200 | 1150 | 800 | 1200 | 1350 | 1150 | 1450 | 2300 | 2250 | 2500 | 2750 | 3300 | 3350 | 3400 | 3500 | 3450 | 3700 | 3700 |
 | 8:09 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:07 | — | — | 7:05 | — | — | 7:03 | — | — | 7:01 | — | — |
 | — | 8:29 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:30 | — | — | 7:31 | — | — | 7:32 | — | — | 7:35 | — |
SnowPro
Hourly & 16-day forecastsView past weatherFast, ad-free browsingSnow hindcasts & HistoryAvalanche information: New Zealand Avalanche Advisory
Latest snow reports near Rainbow:
Recent light rain reported from St Arnaud at 629 metres elevation 8 kms N of Rainbow but it is forecast cold enough for snow at higher elevations in the ski area from Rainbow
| Top snow depth: | — |
|---|---|
| Bottom snow depth: | — |
| Fresh snowfall depth: | — |
| Last snowfall: | 25 Sep 2026 |
| Snow Alerts | Create Alert |
0.2 | Bluebird Powder days Fresh snow, mostly sunny, light wind. |
|---|---|
0.5 | Powder days Fresh snow, limited sun, any wind. |
0.2 | Bluebird days Average snow, mostly sunny, light wind. |
The above table gives the weather forecast for Rainbow at the specific elevation of 1540 m. Our sophisticated weather models allow us to provide snow forecasts for the top, middle and bottom ski stations of Rainbow. To access the weather forecasts for the other elevations, use the tab navigation above the table. For a wider view of the weather, check out the Weather Map of New Zealand.
Click here to read further information on freezing levels and how we forecast our temperatures.
Overall 3.5 Based on 10 votes and 4 reviews
NZ's best kept secret. If you like to get away from the groomers and are prepared to go on short walks, Rainbow will be very good to you. Requirements to enjoy Rainbow: if you're a snowboarder, have an old board with you, if the rocks are showing you can still get freshies all day. Skiers, to have as much fun as the boarders you will need to be comfy with powder and same advice re your skis, skins would be a big advantage to take you up the big hill - 6:1. Never an unhappy face in Rainbow and the road's good. Chains are essential most of the time even if you have a "Big horn".
Sam Mc Eachern from New Zealand writes:
NZ's best kept secret. If you like to get away from the groomers and are prepared to go on short walks, Rainbow will be very good to you. Requirements to enjoy Rainbow: if you're a snowboarder, have an old board with you, if the rocks are showing you can still get freshies all day. Skiers, to have as much fun as the boarders you will need to be comfy with powder and same advice re your skis, skins would be a big advantage to take you up the big hill - 6:1. Never an unhappy face in Rainbow and the road's good. Chains are essential most of the time even if you have a "Big horn".
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