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Rainbow at 1540 m altitude
Issued by Snow-Forecast.com at: 5 am (local time) / 20 Sep 2026
Next 3 days weather summary:Light rain (total 2.0mm) at first, then becoming colder with a dusting of snow on Tue morning. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 7°C on Mon afternoon, min -4°C on Tue night). Wind will be generally light. | Days 4-6 weather summary:A dusting of new snow. Freeze-thaw conditions (max 3°C on Thu afternoon, min -5°C on Wed night). Wind will be generally light. | |||||||||||||||||
Sunday 20 | Monday 21 | Tuesday 22 | Wednesday 23 | Thursday 24 | Friday 25 | |||||||||||||
AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | AM | PM | night | |
 |  |  |  | |  |  | |  | | |  | | | |  | |  | |
snow shwrs | some clouds | some clouds | clear | clear | light rain | light snow | snow shwrs | light snow | light snow | snow shwrs | snow shwrs | clear | some clouds | some clouds | cloudy | cloudy | cloudy | |
km/h | ||||||||||||||||||
Snow map |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||
 cm | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
mm | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
max °C | 0 | 2 | -1 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | -3 | -1 | -1 | -5 | 2 | 3 | -2 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
min °C | -2 | 0 | -2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -4 | -4 | -3 | -5 | -1 | 0 | -2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
chill °C | -7 | -4 | -5 | -2 | 0 | -4 | -3 | -7 | -9 | -9 | -6 | -8 | -4 | -5 | -6 | -3 | -4 | -4 |
Humid % | 80 | 60 | 77 | 59 | 61 | 90 | 95 | 54 | 89 | 81 | 54 | 51 | 49 | 44 | 87 | 82 | 88 | 98 |
Freeze m | 1150 | 1700 | 1350 | 3450 | 3450 | 2650 | 1750 | 1550 | 1050 | 1000 | 1300 | 800 | 1200 | 1800 | 1300 | 1600 | 1750 | 1500 |
 | 6:22 | — | — | 6:20 | — | — | 6:18 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:16 | — | — | 6:13 | — | — |
 | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:22 | — | — | 6:23 | — | — | 6:24 | — | — | 6:25 | — | — | 6:27 | — |
Days 7-16 weather summary:
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Latest snow reports near Rainbow:
- 6 hours ago
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
Rainbow Snow Conditions
| Top snow depth: | — |
|---|---|
| Bottom snow depth: | — |
| Fresh snowfall depth: | 3 cm |
| Last snowfall: | 19 Sep 2026 |
| Snow Alerts | Create Alert |
Other resorts in New Zealand are reporting: powder (0) / good piste (0)
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Snow History
Week 3 of September has on average:
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. |
Rainbow Forecast Snowfall
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Photos of Rainbow
Rainbow! by Snow Forecast Admin
Learner Slopes by Daniel
Top of T lift on Rainbow Ski field by Daniel
Upload new photo Other resorts in New Zealand are reporting: powder (0) / good piste (0)
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.
Visitor Reviews of Rainbow
Overall 3.5 Based on 10 votes and 4 reviews
- Snowsure
- Variety of pistes
- Vote
- 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".
Visitor Reviews of Rainbow
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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