Snow down on the foothills behind Rua Roa as a dairy herd grazes in the foreground, while the last swallow of summer flies by (far right). Photo / Christine McKay
The temperature in Dannevirke and Norsewood plummeted overnight Sunday as snow began falling at low levels.
In Dannevirke residents first noticed the snow at 9pm and Norsewood, weather-watcher Lyn McConchie said that was when she noticed the snow in upper Norsewood.
"It was definitely coming down, but seemed to be melting when it hit the ground.
"However, we had a bit more snow overnight and that remained yesterday morning in sheltered spots."
With temperatures at -3C yesterday morning in Dannevirke and Norsewood, a heavy frost froze remaining snow, turning it into solid ice, making it difficult for motorists to clear it from their vehicles.
Along with the snow, more rain fell, with 109mm so far this month and the MetService is predicting more rain today, with our midday temperature just a chilly 11C.
John and Sue Buchanan went to bed Sunday night with rain falling and were surprised to wake yesterday morning to find their garden and farm covered in snow.
"It was quite magical, but I was worried about the fate of the plants in my nursery," landscape gardener Sue said..
"Everything out here is quite white, we seem to have had more snow than in Dannevirke and west of the town."
The event, and the emergency that interrupted it, underline the service's importance.