For this forecast, we have time to get prepared on Saturday in case we get snow towards the end of the weekend or early next week,'' Civil Defence manager Jon Mitchell said.
"Schools and businesses should have their plans in place today so people have a clear idea what will happen if snow again closes roads and keeps people at home on Monday,'' Mr Mitchell said.
People with prepaid electricity accounts were urged to top up their power managers after some were caught without power in last month's snow storm, he said.
Weatherwatch head weather analyst Philip Duncan said snow was predicted to low levels around Wellington and across Hutt Valley, and could fall to low levels in Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, Manawatu and Taranaki.
Snow was also expected on the Coromandel Peninsula and Kaimai Ranges, in the Bay of Plenty.
"Canterbury to Marlborough will have blizzard potential,'' Mr Duncan said.
Snow could cause travel issues for motorists from Southland to Otago, Canterbury to Marlborough, Wellington to Wairarapa and Hawke's Bay to Central Plateau.
It may even be an issue on highways as far north as the Gisborne region, Mr Duncan said.
Snow on the North Island ranges was predicted to be especially heavy, with snow showers for the Desert Road on the central plateau from Sunday night until Wednesday.
Farmers in the middle of lambing season were being urged to move livestock with the heaviest snow predicted in southern and eastern regions of both islands, from Southland to East Cape.
Severe southerly gales will add to the misery, with wind chills well below zero predicted.
MetService said the coldest day of the front was likely to be Monday, with conditions expected to ease on Tuesday or Wednesday. Severe frosts and icy roads were likely to persist later in the week.
- NZPA
