Cold snap set to hit South Island

Summer for the south of the South Island could be cut short as a cold snap is expected to hit the area for the next two days.

MetService has forecast unseasonable cold with snow expected to fall to 600m or lower in Southland and Otago from late tomorrow and Wednesday.

Southwesterly gales reaching 110km/h were also expected to hit the area.

The combination of strong winds, low temperatures and rain or snow was likely to feel like winter had come early, MetService spokesman Gerard Barrow said.

It would be the first significant cold outbreak of the year and had the potential to affect some of the higher roads and place stress on stock, he said.

- NZPA