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Canterbury emergency planners are urging people to stock up on essential supplies with winter's first real southerly chill forecast to hit the country.
MetService meteorologists have warned that a wintry blast moving from the south will reach New Zealand from tomorrow.
The icy weather will be the second part of a storm moving across the Tasman which is battering New South Wales with destructive winds, heavy rains, damaging surf and snow.
The Radio Network's weather commentator Philip Duncan said there would be thunderstorms and strong north-easterlies in northern regions tonight.
The MetService has also warned that heavy rain could affect Bay of Plenty and Gisborne north of Tolaga Bay overnight.
It predicted a "very cold and squally southwesterly wind flow" would move from the polar ice-shelf onto the South Island on Thursday, bringing snow to the mountains and maybe to some low levels in parts of Southland and Otago.
This polar air would also blow over the North Island on Friday and Saturday making wind chill levels drop to below freezing, spokesman Bob McDavitt said.
Canterbury was smothered by one of its harshest winter blizzards a year ago, with snow blanketing the province, felling power lines and isolating rural communities. Some residents in remote areas had to endure almost two weeks without electricity.
Canterbury Civil Defence spokesman Jon Mitchell said today people should have learnt valuable lessons from last year's emergency.
He urged residents to stock up with radios, batteries, torches, food and water in case of a repeat this winter.
"We learned a lot of important lessons last year and we are reminding people that they should be preparing now in case we have another heavy snowfall."
Last year's blizzard demonstrated a need for people to have car-chargers for their cellphones and at least one home telephone that did not require electricity.
Alternative sources of heating and cooking, such as gas heaters and barbecues with spare gas bottles, were also recommended.
Mr Mitchell said Civil Defence managers also recommended schools, businesses and other organisations plan for winter conditions to reduce disruptions to services and the community.
Farmers had a couple of days to brace for the wintry outburst accompanying the lead-up to this year's shortest day on Friday.
- NZPA
