Dunedin’s official MetService high of the day reached 18°C yesterday and 17.4°C on Wednesday, possibly giving many residents a false sense of season.
Today the high will only get to 12°C in the city, and by Sunday, it is possible snow will fall to 400m around most of Otago and Southland.
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said it would be wise to replenish the firewood supply before the weekend.
Temperatures in Dunedin were expected to drop as low as 2°C, -1°C in Mosgiel and -2°C for much of inland Otago and Southland.
"From Sunday afternoon and into Monday, colder, showery southwesterlies will bring the possibility of snowfall to inland areas of the South Island.
"This is an early heads-up to farmers with young stock, as well as road users who might be travelling along some of those elevated roads and mountain passes.
"Into next week, however, there is a chance the snow could go down to lower levels for places like Southland and Otago," she said.
On Monday, a strong, cold southwest flow was set to spread over the whole country, bringing the possibility of snow down to "lower levels" in the south, and southwest winds, which might reach warning strength about Stewart Island and coastal areas of eastern Southland, Clutha and Dunedin.
It was unlikely that heavy snow would be experienced above 400m in Fiordland, Southland and southern Otago, she said.
"Although these recent temperatures are reminiscent of warmer seasons, the combination of cloud, rain and wind will remind us that winter isn’t over just yet," she said.
