Snowfall warning in the height of summer

File photo / NZ Herald

It may be summer, but you could be forgiven for mistaking the dismal weather outside is for a different season - especially after a snowfall warning was issued by MetService today.

While farmers will be rejoicing at the sight of rain, everybody else will be hoping it clears up for the long weekend. But some in the South Island may be preparing to dig out the winter coat from the back of the wardrobe after MetService issued a snowfall warning for the Milford Rd.

"Rain showers may turn to snow at times near the tunnel overnight and in the morning," the warning said.

However, "little if any snow should settle on the road".

All other mountain roads and passes were sticking to the summer season, with no snowfall warnings in place.

It comes as severe gales were expected in many parts of the South Island and lower North Island today. Northland, Auckland and Coromandel were all expected to see rain, with it heavy at times in Northland.

Patchy rain would spread south and east, into the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Hawkes Bay, MetService said, while Buller and Westland would also see rain turning to squally showers. Fiordland, Southland and Otago could expect some squally showers with thunderstorms and hail about the south coast.

Everywhere else was expected to be mainly fine, MetService said.