Parts of the South shivered today as heavy rain and wind hit coastal Otago, while snow fell inland at Cardrona.
MetService issued heavy rain and strong wind watches for the coastal South Island from the Catlins to Christchurch, extending about 20km inland from the coast as a southwesterly front moved up the island.
The heavy rain was mostly expected for the morning in Otago, with the watch due to end at 11am.
However, strong winds may stick around for most of the day, until about 5pm.
Those winds could approach gale force in exposed areas and may make driving risky, especially for high-sided vehicles and motorcycles.
Snow at Cardrona
Meanwhile, there's been a decent dump of snow inland at Cardrona Alpine Resort between Queenstown and Wānaka.
In a social media post today, staff said they were excited to see the first snow of the year. About 10cm had fallen, but this wouldn't stay round for long.
Cardrona is set to open on the June 15, when it will become the biggest ski field in the country.
In Naseby, resident Richard Garden said the Central Otago town was hit with snow showers, sleet and cold rain this morning.
He said the temperature was about 1°C d at 8.45am today, having dropped from 4°C about 6am.
The snow wasn't settling but it was a "cold, miserable morning", and he lit the fire to keep himself warm.
In Southland, brief snow flurries were forecast at the Homer Tunnel on State Highway 94 this morning, Milford Road Alliance advised.
The poor weather thankfully won't stick around for too long however.
The forecast for tomorrow through the weekend was settled and temperatures were set to hover in the high teens to the low twenties.
- APL/RNZ
