Snow was falling in some of Dunedin's hill suburbs this morning as a cold front bites in the South bringing the possibility heavy snow above 500m, gale force winds, thunderstorms and hail.
A Brockville resident told the Otago Daily Times "large flakes" were falling after 9.30am, but snow was not settling. An ODT reader also shared video of snow falling in Halfway Bush.
Meanwhile, motorists are being urged to take care on Central Otago roads as snow falls throughout the region.
An advisory from Central Otago District Council contractor Fulton Hogan said caution was advised in the Manuherikia and Maniototo areas, as well as the high country of Roxburgh, where snow was falling and starting to settle on the roads.
More updates would be issued if conditions changed, the advisory said.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) also said light snow was falling on the Crown Range Rd as of just after 12.40pm.
Along with gales and snow about the hills, the MetService says there is a moderate chance of thunderstorms in parts of the South, including Dunedin and Invercargill, which could bring heavy rain.
A heavy snow watch is in place for inland Otago, south of about Cromwell, where snow is expected above 400m and heavy falls possible above 500m until 6pm today.
A watch is also in place for Southern Fiordland, Southland and Clutha until 3pm.
Snow is expected to affect some mountain passes today and road snowfall warnings are in place for Milford Rd, Crown Range Rd, Lindis Pass and Lewis Pass.
NZTA has issued a caution for snow and ice for SH87 between Middlemarch and Outram and is urging drivers to take extra care.
QLDC said early this morning "extreme caution" was required on the Crown Range which was affected by snow flurries and black ice.
Central Otago District Council said this morning that Danseys Pass Rd was restricted to 4WD vehicles only.
Ice was possible in other parts of the Queenstown Lakes District and in Central Otago where temperatures were sitting around -1degC at 6am.
