Snow in Southland, sunshine in Northland - and everything else in between

Wednesday, 10 October 2018

Here are the MetService's latest severe weather warnings as snow starts to fall in Southland.

While those in the south frolicked in a winter wonderland, it was sunglasses and jandals up in the north - temperatures soaring over 20 degrees Celsius in some places.

MetService issued a severe weather watch for inland Southland on Wednesday morning, saying snow was expected to lower to as much as 600 metres in some areas where snow accumulations may approach warning criteria. And places such as Timaru, Lauder and Dunedin dropped 6-7C in one hour, according to Niwa.

Meanwhile in Napier, the sun shone all day long, bringing with it the highest temperature in NZ - 22C.

Is it snowing where you are? Send your photos to newstips@stuff.co.nz

Napier was the high today with 22 degrees. Invercargill had their max temp early this morning before the southerly. ^JR pic.twitter.com/4g3WnZdm06

Driving on State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Mossburn was difficult as snow was falling.

— MetService (@MetService) October 10, 2018

Joe is checking out the snow in Te Anau.

Back in the chilly south, the NZ Transport Agency closed State Highway 94 Te Anau to Milford Sound for the day because of all the snow, and it was expected to be until at least noon on Thursday.

A staff member at the Five Rivers Cafe, between Queenstown and Te Anau, said snow was falling in the area and there had been plenty of people stopping in for lunch but it didn't appear the snow was holding anyone up.

Today's MetService national forecast suggested snow could fall to low levels in parts of the South Island.

Misty the cat is not impressed by the snow in Te Anau.

Maze the dog is fascinated by the snow falling in Te Anau on Wednesday.

Heavy snow is falling between Mossburn and Te Anau.

Maze the dog enjoys snow falling in Te Anau.

Snow falling near Te Anau making life unpleasant for sheep and lambs.

Bianca Parry took this photo of the snow in Te Anau.

Drivers were urged to be cautious as snow fell in Te Anau.

Snow continues to fall in Te Anau as a cold snap passes through.

MetService meteorologist Matthew Ford said a front hovering over Stewart Island was making its way up the South Island and the cold southerly would remain for the rest of the week.

In the east, it was expected to reach Marlborough by midnight, while in the west it was a bit more complicated but rain was expected to spread north, he said.

'Particularly in the east, with winds turning southerly, it gets very cold in the south. With all that rain falling, we're forecasting it turning to snow at relatively low levels over southern parts of the South Island today.

'There's quite a good south southwest fetch that's bringing up cold air from the Southern Ocean. Really for the rest of the week it stays pretty cold and southerly.

'During today we've got that front moving up the South Island, and then on Friday it looks like we get another front that moves up and that brings more cold air to the south, and rain to lots of places.'

MetService is forecasting snow lowering to 600m over the central North Island on Friday, with southerly gales about the centre of the country, and southerlies making it to Northland by Saturday.