If you have any firewood left over, now might be a good time to load up the log burner.
Unsettled weather will continue to stir over the southern regions for the next couple of days, bringing cold, wet, windy and snowy weather.
MetService meteorologist Ngaire Wotherspoon said a cold front was expected to hit the South today, bringing scattered showers - some heavy with hail - and snow was expected to lower to 500m in Southland tonight.
The Milford Road (State Highway 94) in Southland would close at 4.30pm today from East Gate (Hollyford Rd Junction) to West Gate (Donne River Bridge) due to snow, Waka Kotahi/NZ Transport Agency advised. The road would open about 9am tomorrow.
MetService said snow showers were likely to affect the road above 600 metres from Friday night. Further showers were possible above 800 metres during Saturday afternoon but were not expected to settle.
Snow showers were also forecast for the Crown Range Road overnight on Friday.
A strong west-to-southwest flow meant that snow would spread and drop to lower levels in much of inland Otago and Southland tomorrow, possibly moving as far east as the hills around Dunedin.
While it was not expected to cause any disruption, it would bring very cold temperatures.
"Along with the wind, it’s going to be rainy and temperatures will be dropping, so it’s going to feel pretty grim."
Snow showers were forecast for the Milford Road
More "fast-moving fronts" were expected to travel up the country into the second week of school holidays.
Heavy rain was expected for the West Coast from Sunday.
On Monday, severe northwest gales followed by severe southwest gales were likely for Southland, Stewart Island and Clutha.
It was also likely severe southwest gales would affect Dunedin and North Otago.
"More affected areas could be identified closer to the time, so keep an eye on updates," she said.
