The Rimutaka Hill Rd between Wellington and Wairarapa is closed because of snow. Photo / Supplied
Wellington's hill suburbs has been hit by snow as the latest cold snap continues.
The capital city has woken to a cold, snowy morning, with temperatures down to 1.8 degrees last night and an expected high today of only seven degrees.
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The Rimutaka Hill Rd between Wellington and Wairarapa is closed because of snow and MetService meteorologist John Law said Wellington city's hilly suburbs such as Karori could be in for a sprinkling.
Otherwise the rain and sleet would continue.
"It's going to be a real mix of wintry weather as we go through today," Mr Law said.
It will still be chilly in Auckland and Northland and a few showers hang around, although fine spells are increasing. Auckland is in for a high of 10 degrees.
"It's still a cold day for the guys up in Auckland- by their standards anyway," Mr Law said.
The Coromandel and Bay of Plenty are in for a cold, fine day, while showers turning into snow in the hills stretch from Gisborne to the bottom of the North Island.
The MetService has issued a heavy-snow warning for hill country between Gisborne and Wairoa.
WeatherWatch said inland Canterbury above 300m could expect between 5cm and 10cm of snow and up to 15cm above 400m.
WeatherWatch said the East Coast of the North Island could see totals of 5cm to 10cm above 200m, which has already created issues for the Napier-Taupo Rd and highways above that level.
Many parts of the country have started the day with frost around, especially inland West Coast, parts of Waikato to Lake Taupo and inland Bay of Plenty.
A ridge moving over the lower South Island overnight Thursday and into Friday morning would bring more frosts and the possibility of temperatures in the double figure negatives in really sheltered areas.
The snowfall today has been significant, but not in the same books as the dumping in June.
Mount Lyford in North Canterbury received 50cm of snow and Hamner Springs received 35cm of snow.
MetService meteorologist Rob Kerr said overnight temperatures had plummeted in Canterbury.
"It was extremely frosty overnight," he said.
Coronet peak has received between 15cm and 25cm, and in the North Island Whakapapa had received 10cm of new snow and Turoa had received 20cm of new snow in time for what is shaping up to be a fantastic weekend at the skifields.
It's understood a NZDF aircraft and multiple helicopters are involved.