Next 3 days weather summary:A light fall of snow, heaviest on Thu afternoon. Turning milder with light rain (total 3.0mm) on Sat morning. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 5°C on Fri afternoon, min -5°C on Sat night). Winds increasing (calm on Thu afternoon, strong winds from the WSW by Sat night). | Days 4-6 weather summary:Light rain (total 3.0mm) at first, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue night. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 4°C on Mon afternoon, min -4°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | ||||||||||||||||
Thu 17 | Friday 18 | Saturday 19 | Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | ||||||||||||
PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
 |  |  | |  |  |  |  | |  | | | |  | | | | |
mod. snow | snow shwrs | some clouds | some clouds | some clouds | light rain | light snow | light snow | light snow | snow shwrs | some clouds | some clouds | some clouds | light rain | light snow | some clouds | snow shwrs | |
km/h | |||||||||||||||||
Snow map |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||
 cm | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | 3 | — | — | — |
max °C | 0 | -1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | -1 | 0 | -2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | -3 |
min °C | 0 | -2 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 2 | 1 | -5 | -3 | -2 | -3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1 | -2 | -4 |
chill °C | 0 | -5 | -3 | -1 | -4 | -3 | -6 | -14 | -10 | -6 | -7 | -5 | -3 | -6 | -6 | -8 | -10 |
Humid % | 99 | 93 | 53 | 61 | 84 | 89 | 95 | 98 | 81 | 74 | 82 | 86 | 80 | 94 | 90 | 51 | 94 |
Freeze m | 1650 | 1400 | 1850 | 2500 | 1900 | 2300 | 2000 | 1500 | 1050 | 1400 | 1100 | 1400 | 3250 | 2300 | 1500 | 1500 | 1000 |
 | — | — | 6:26 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — |
 | 6:19 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:21 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — |
SnowPro
Hourly & 16-day forecastsView past weatherFast, ad-free browsingSnow hindcasts & HistoryAvalanche information: New Zealand Avalanche Advisory
Latest snow reports near Rainbow:
Recent moderate rain reported from St Arnaud at 629 metres elevation 8 kms N of Rainbow but it is forecast cold enough for snow at the ski area from 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 the ski area from Rainbow
| Top snow depth: | — |
|---|---|
| Bottom snow depth: | — |
| Fresh snowfall depth: | — |
| Last snowfall: | 10 Sep 2026 |
| Snow Alerts | Create Alert |
0.1 | Bluebird Powder days Fresh snow, mostly sunny, light wind. |
|---|---|
0.6 | Powder days Fresh snow, limited sun, any wind. |
0.1 | 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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