But traffic was backed up on the city's Northern Motorway which was closed due to a crash just before 2pm.
A truck crashed on the southbound side, after the Constellation Dr onramp and blocked two lanes.
As traffic began to back up, authorities closed the section of road and southbound traffic was diverted off the Constellation Dr off ramp and able to re-enter on the nearby onramp.
No one was injured in the crash.According to MetService, the rain is likely to ease off at about 2am, with a cold south westerly wind bringing morning showers, before clearing later tomorrow.
Police tonight said driving conditions around the Southern region were treacherous and those conditions were expected to continue through tomorrow.
Widespread snow and black ice had caused a number of crashes, police said.
"Police advise motorists to take care on all Southern roads and to avoid all non-essential travel tonight and tomorrow morning."
Aucklanders can expect a maximum temperature of 12C tomorrow.
It's been a damp day for most of the North Island, with rain, showers, and even thunderstorms across Waikato, Auckland and Northland.
Meanwhile, snow has fallen down to sea levels in Southland and Otago today.
MetService has received reports of 5-10cm snow north of Invercargill, including 10cm in Clinton.
The winds have now turned southerly across the South Island, MetService meteorologist Rebekah LaBar said.Showers were expected across the east coast this evening and overnight.
Snow down to 200m is expected in Otago and Canterbury tonight and tomorrow.
Snow could also fall in Dunedin and Christchurch but Ms LaBar said it was unlikely to accumulate, with sleety showers more likely.
"It's not a really widespread event, it's pretty showery," said Ms LaBar.
"Some places might see a few centimetres [of snow] and others won't see much at all."
MetService has issued a warning for heavy snow for Southland, southern Fiordland and Clutha, and for Hawkes Bay, the Tararua District and the Taihape area, including the Central Plateau.
Snow is forecast down to 300-400m over the southern and central North Island for tomorrow.Police said "treacherous ... widespread" black ice caused a number of crashes across Southland this morning.
The NZ Transport Agency said drivers need to be extra vigilant in Canterbury, Otago and Southland, with the wintry blast expected to continue over the next two days.
Contractors will be gritting areas of black ice Wednesday morning around the roading network, NZTA journey manager Lee Wright said.
Motorists should be prepared especially if they're travelling the alpine passes such as State Highway 73 Arthurs Pass, State Highway 7 Lewis Pass and State Highway 8 Lindis Pass, as the weather there can "change very quickly and catch people out".
The cold snap is expected to ease towards the end of week, but temperatures will remain low.
"It will still be pretty cold for a lot of people," Ms LaBar said.
Weatherwatch said Auckland is expected to get colder as the day goes on, with a minimum temperature of 7C, although the rest of the week will be colder, dropping to 4C on Friday and Saturday.
- Additional reporting: Susan Strongman of the New Zealand Herald
Tomorrow's forecast:
• Apia: 32C. Showers, light winds.
• Auckland: 12C. Showers, chance heavy with hail. Southerlies.
• Hamilton: 10C. Occasional morning rain. Afternoon fine spells. Southerly winds.
• Wellington: 7C. Periods of rain. Southerly strengthening.
• Christchurch: 7C. Sleety showers, southerlies. Port Hills snow.
• Dunedin: 7C. Few sleety showers, hillside snow. Cold southerlies.
(Source: MetService)
