Wintry weather expected to continue into Tuesday after snow and hail for South Island and Wellington

Monday, 19 November 2018

Raymond Lee of South Korea didn't let snow in Queenstown stop his cycle travels around New Zealand.

More snow and stormy weather could be on the way for parts of New Zealand on Tuesday.

Snow accumulated on mountain passes in the South Island on Monday, while Dunedin was pelted with hail during the day, and hail swept up through Nelson, Marlborough and parts of Wellington early in the evening.

MetService said more snow was possible on South Island mountain passes on Tuesday afternoon, with warnings out for the Southern Lakes, Central Otago and parts of Southland, as well as a heavy rain warning for eastern Otago.

Dunedin man Martin Milner snapped this picture of hail falling on Otago Harbour.

MetService severe weather forecaster Andy Downs said mid-November snow was 'unusual, but not unprecedented'. The wintry conditions were caused by a strong, cold southerly airstream moving across New Zealand.

Australian James Roots had never seen snow until he came to Queenstown ... at the end of spring.

Temperatures hovered in single digits in many parts of the South Island on Monday.

In Marlborough temperatures dropped sharply about lunchtime. Thunderstorms could bring more hail on Tuesday.

In Nelson lightning-strike started a fire in a forestry block. Wakefield chief fire officer Fritz Buckendahl said the fire was started by lightning about 4pm on Monday. 'It's unusual. Normally in New Zealand we don't have too many lightning strikes as a rule, but this was definitely lightning,' he said.

Snow at Arthurs Point near Queenstown on Monday morning.

A snow dump in Queenstown blanketed the local skifields, which are now closed.

There were reports of hail in Brooklyn, Petone and Porirua in the Wellington area. MetService meteorologist Brian Mercer said there was potential for hail and thunderstorms overnight on Monday but that risk would reduce through the evening. Showers would continue to morning but ease and clear by lunchtime on Tuesday, he said.

Further south, State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound, and the Crown Range between Queenstown and Wanaka were closed for short periods on Monday thanks to the snow.

Strong and cold south to southeasterly winds are expected to continue to bring wintry conditions to the south of the South Island through to late Tuesday.

Several domestic flights in and out of Queenstown Airport were cancelled on Monday morning, and some tourists enjoyed the novelty of snow in November.

James Roots, holidaying in Queenstown from Queensland, Australia, said he had never seen snow before. 'I didn't think there was going to be snow like this … it's pretty out of control if you ask me.'

Heavy snow hit Queenstown and surrounding areas on Monday morning.

Thea Cox, 3, and her mum Tanysha Cox got creative with hail along the side of SH1, near Picton.

South Korean man Raymond Lee, 32, was not expecting snow in Queenstown as he biked around New Zealand. 'This is my very first snowy weather when I am cycling … so I am just taking it very, very slow today.'

Downs said the general weather set-up across the South Island was complex. Small low-pressure centres were swirling around each other to the east of the island, making it difficult to pinpoint how far north the wet and cold weather would move.

Hail falls in a backyard in Wakefield, near Nelson.

Snow fell as low as 300 to 400 metres on Monday.

Freezing levels are expected to be higher on Tuesday as a depression east of the South Island moves west, dragging more heavy, persistent rain with it and bringing slightly milder air.

Snow warnings remain in place. MetService said snow could accumulate above 800m in the Canterbury high country on Tuesday morning, and in parts of Otago and Fiordland.

Snow in the Hurunui District near the Lewis Pass on Monday morning.

More snow could settle on the Lewis, Arthurs, Porters and Lindis passes from Tuesday afternoon.

The unseasonal weather began with severe thunderstorms along the east coast of the South Island on Sunday, along with a substantial tornado in Mid-Canterbury.

Canterbury's weather is forecast to begin improving on Tuesday evening, with easterly winds bringing milder conditions.

Sun and temperatures in the mid-teens are forecast for eastern regions for Wednesday.