Snow is expected to fall to near sea level in the South on Wednesday as a vigorous cold front makes its way up the country.
MetService said today the front is expected to reach the lower South Island by midnight tomorrow, and move rapidly north over the country on Wednesday.
During Wednesday and into early Thursday, cold, strong to gale-force southerlies are expected to spread over the country behind this front, bringing snow to low levels about southern and eastern parts of the South Island and the lower North Island.
At this stage, significant accumulations of snow are expected to be limited to the ranges and higher level roads of both islands.
However, people living in parts of Southland, Clutha and Dunedin should expect snow to near sea level on Wednesday.
From late on Wednesday until early Thursday, snow is expected to fall to about 200 metres in Canterbury north of the Rakaia River and southern Marlborough, with sleet or bitterly cold rain to near sea level.
Over the North Island, temperatures are expected to become significantly colder during Wednesday afternoon and evening, especially about Wellington, Wairarapa and the central plateau, with snow falling above 400 metres, and southerly gales about Cook Strait.
Snow is likely to cause disruption to traffic, especially about the higher level roads of both islands.
Farmers are advised that the combination of bitterly cold southerlies, rain and snow, is likely to stress vulnerable stock.
