Next 3 days weather summary:A moderate fall of snow, heaviest on Mon night. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 1°C on Sun morning, min -3°C on Mon afternoon). Winds decreasing (near gales from the W on Sun night, light winds from the WSW by Tue morning). | Days 4-6 weather summary:Heavy rain (total 25.0mm), heaviest during Wed night. Later becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Fri night. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 3°C on Wed night, min -2°C on Thu night). Mainly strong winds. | |||||||||||||||||
Sunday 30 | Monday 31 | Tuesday 1 | Wednesday 2 | Thursday 3 | Friday 4 | |||||||||||||
AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
 | |  | | | | | |  |  | |  |  | |  |  | | | |
light snow | light snow | light snow | light snow | light snow | light snow | light snow | light snow | cloudy | cloudy | light snow | snow shwrs | some clouds | some clouds | light rain | rain shwrs | some clouds | light snow | |
km/h | ||||||||||||||||||
Snow map |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
 cm | — | — | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 17 | — | — | 2 | 6 | — | — |
max °C | 1 | 1 | -1 | -1 | -2 | -3 | -2 | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | -1 |
min °C | 0 | 0 | -2 | -1 | -3 | -3 | -3 | -2 | -2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -2 | 2 | -1 | -1 |
chill °C | -6 | -7 | -10 | -9 | -11 | -10 | -9 | -8 | -9 | -5 | -6 | -7 | -4 | -5 | -8 | -4 | -8 | -8 |
Humid % | 88 | 89 | 94 | 91 | 87 | 98 | 92 | 89 | 91 | 86 | 87 | 96 | 78 | 66 | 90 | 93 | 64 | 95 |
Freeze m | 1800 | 1700 | 1250 | 1350 | 1250 | 1150 | 1100 | 1200 | 1350 | 1750 | 1800 | 2100 | 1900 | 2250 | 1300 | 2050 | 1850 | 1300 |
 | 6:58 | — | — | 6:56 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:54 | — | — | 6:52 | — | — | 6:50 | — | — |
 | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:00 | — | — | 6:01 | — | — | 6:02 | — | — | 6:04 | — | — | 6:05 | — |
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Avalanche information: New Zealand Avalanche Advisory
Latest snow reports near Rainbow:
| Top snow depth: | — |
|---|---|
| Bottom snow depth: | — |
| Fresh snowfall depth: | — |
| Last snowfall: | 28 Aug 2026 |
| Snow Alerts | Create Alert |
0.0 | Bluebird Powder days Fresh snow, mostly sunny, light wind. |
|---|---|
0.5 | Powder days Fresh snow, limited sun, any wind. |
0.5 | 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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