KEY POINTS:
A cold front is moving north over New Zealand, with strong winds and snow prompting a severe weather warning for Southland, South Otago and parts of the lower North Island.
Metservice forecaster Oliver Druce said the front would bring snow showers down to 100 or 200 metres in Southland and parts of Otago today and tomorrow.
Heavy snowfalls are predicted for the Lewis, Arthur's, Lindis and Porters passes.
Lindis Pass was set to receive 4 to 8cm this afternoon and evening, while Arthur's pass could be hit overnight with as much as half a metre of snow.
The Milford Road was also likely to see falls of up to 30cm overnight , Mr Druce said.
Heavy snowfalls were reaching as low as 100m above sea level in inland Southland, and south Otago including the Catlins, while southwest gales were also buffetting the area.
Gusts of around 100km/hr buffeted Invercargill airport overnight and reporter Malcolm Gayfer said forecasters had recorded gales of 85km/hr in the city.
Mr Druce said the winds were expected to ease this afternoon.
He said showers and westerly winds were moving across the North Island today, gusting to severe gales in Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa.
Strong winds have already caused problems in the Wairarapa.
The Fire Service spent six hours battling a blaze in a pine plantation at Flat Point just outside Masterton, which is thought to have been caused by power lines blown down by the wind.
Fire fighters managed to get the blaze under control, but were expected to stay at the scene for some time.
There have been smaller fires in Greytown and Carterton, also thought to have been caused by high winds.
Forecaster Leigh Matheson said the "polar blast" was definitely the start of winter.
She said temperatures were dropping with 6C in Invercargill and 4C at Stewart Island. The Southland front is expected to head north, followed by three weather fronts bringing wind and snow over the coming days.
The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) issued a statement yesterday saying cold snaps were likely to continue throughout the first part of June.
However, Niwa predicted a warmer than usual winter overall.
The MetService's Severe Weather Warning in full
Heavy snow warning
For inland parts of Southland and for South Otago
including the Catlins:
A very cold showery southwest flow is now established in these areas.
From midday today to midnight Friday expect 20-30cm snow to
accumulate above 300 metres, with lesser amounts settling down to
about 100 metres.
Further lighter snowfalls are likely to low levels on Saturday
Strong wind warning
For Southland and Otago coasts
This mornings southwest gales are now easing.
However southwest winds are expected to rise to severe gale again
from about midday Friday. From midday to midnight Friday expect gusts
to 130 km/h.
For Hawke's Bay south of Napier and Wairarapa
Expect westerly gales at times though today and Friday, with severe
gusts 130 km/h at times.
- NZPA / NEWSTALK ZB
