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People looking forward to a sunny Labour Weekend will be bitterly disappointed by weather reports predicting wind, rain and snow.
However, the Metservice said the wintry spell was expected to be brief with conditions clearing from Sunday.
Metservice issued a special weather advisory for Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Marlborough and the central North Island plateau, warning of a cold southerly blast expected to hit the areas.
The southerly was expected to spread over the south and east of the South Island on Saturday afternoon, and the southern and central North Island on Sunday.
Farmers were advised that conditions would be bleak for a time, especially for new born animals out in the open.
Motorists were also warned to drive to the conditions, with a likelihood that snow and ice could affect roads.
Snow was predicted down to about 400 metres in Southland and Otago , 600m in Canterbury and 800m on the Kaikoura coast.
The southerly was expected to reach the central North Island plateau about midday on Sunday, and snow could lower to about 1000m in the evening, affecting the Desert Road summit.
- NZPA
