The worst winter storm of the year is on its way, with snow and gales set to batter much of New Zealand.
As the first week of the school holidays gets under way, the MetService issued a severe weather watch, warning that a vicious cold front was expected to hit on Tuesday and last for the next four days.
Snow was expected to fall to very low levels in the South, with potentially damaging gales, torrential rain and snow lashing the country from Gisborne south.
Travel was expected to grind to a halt and farmers were being told to move livestock ahead of the wintry blast.
Coastal regions were being put on alert with possible flooding from strong onshore winds, high waves and heavy rain colliding in the storm.
Due to forecast snow State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford has been closed, until further notice.
Snow warnings
Snow was expected to fall for two straight days across the South Island - in some areas down to 100m in southernmost regions and down to 200m in Canterbury - followed by a bitterly cold southerly wind.
The MetService said snow below 500m was likely in Otago for a time on Tuesday morning, and again on Tuesday night until Wednesday evening; in Southland and Fiordland from early on Tuesday morning until Wednesday afternoon; and in Canterbury and Marlborough from Tuesday evening until Thursday morning.
On Wednesday, severe gales, heavy rain and snow was set to strike the central New Zealand.
Gales were expected to batter Taranaki to Gisborne south, while heavy rain was expected to fall across the lower half of the North Island.
Snow was expected to bring disruption to central and eastern areas, with forecasters predicting it will fall down to 600m across Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay and east of Taupo.
The bad weather was not expected to let up until Friday when it moved away from the North Island.
MetService forecaster Ciarin Doolin said the wild weather was expected to affect many parts of both islands and people could expect roads across throughout to become snowbound.
"This front is expected to bring significant severe weather, affecting many parts of New Zealand from Tuesday to Wednesday, including heavy rain, snow and severe gales, and may cause disruption to transport and stress to livestock. It is also worth noting that for coastal areas exposed to a strong onshore flow, high waves and heavy rain could lead to inundation," Ms Doolin said.
"There is still a degree of uncertainty in the computer models regarding the mid-week severe weather event, so people are advised to keep up to date with the latest Severe Weather Outlook. It is highly likely that Severe Weather Watches or Warnings will be issued nearer to the event."
