Hail in Auckland as icy weather hits the country

Audra Shepherd sweeps the hail stones from her door step at Miada Sport Lifestyle Centre in Newton, Auckland. Picture / Fotopress

Some parts of New Zealand are under serious threat of a white Christmas next week.

Snow in Queenstown and hail in Auckland yesterday capped off a shocking week of weather - and left us reaching for the winter woollies.

"It's so changeable - you can never rely on the forecast," said Auckland scriptwriter Chris Widdup, 32, who is planning an outdoor wedding in Herne Bay today.

Computer network problems caused by the wintry weather meant many shoppers from Taupo north couldn't buy Lotto tickets, with the Lotteries Commission extending sales by 30 minutes.

Ten centimetres of snow fell at Coronet Peak, while Christmas shoppers in Auckland were pelted by hail and rain as they endured a low of 9C.

MetService expects the wintry weather to continue well into this week, but predicts sunshine for some areas by Christmas.

MetService ambassador Bob McDavitt said the unseasonal weather was caused by low-pressure systems south of the Chathams. A high crossing the northern Tasman Sea was expected to bring fine weather to the north of New Zealand later this week.

But the chances of a sunny Christmas were lower in southern parts of the country, with north-westerlies likely in the South Island and showers possible in Fiordland.

Niwa senior climate scientist Dr Jim Salinger said the outlook for summer was slightly better than last year in the North Island, but worse in the South. Summer would be windier than usual though, especially in the Wellington region.

Snow is expected on the Desert Road this morning.

The MetService said a couple of centimetres could settle on the road, with snow showers expected to clear around midday.

There was a blanket of white hail on Auckland's Southern Motorway this morning.  An intense burst of hail has settled between East Tamaki Road and Te Irirangi Drive.  Drivers are being urged to slow down.

- Herald on Sunday and Newstalk ZB