Winter hits with a vengeance

Heavy rain and hailstorms hit parts of Auckland on Saturday. Picture / Richard Robinson

A Mother's Day front hit the country yesterday and more snow is expected through the central North Island, bringing a taste of what winter has in store.

MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said yesterday's rain, wind and snow was a foretaste of winter.

The third snowfall in the past three weeks closed some roads.

The chilly weather was expected to stay around until mid-week, bringing frosts to the Waikato, Nelson, Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay and Marlborough.

The cold snap was expected to bring snow to the Desert Rd and yesterday the lower South Island was already getting a blanketing.

State Highway 8 between Fairlie and Twizel was closed yesterday afternoon after a white-out left motorists battling the elements.

The AA's Road Watch advised caution on many other roads, including State Highway 94 between Milford and Te Anau and State Highway 6 between Greymouth and Hokitika.

Federated Farmers Southland representative John Gardyne said it was a typical winter storm for Southland.

"Winter has finally come. We've had a nice Indian summer, it's quite a shock to the system.

"It's one of the coldest days so far. I think it has caught everyone by surprise."

Snow was falling to 500m around Canterbury and 400m in Southland.

But those waiting for the start of the ski season will be heartened. The MetService is predicting 15cm of snow for the Central Plateau over the next couple of days.

The coldest temperature recorded yesterday was high in the Southland ranges where it was -4C. The coldest populated area was Manapouri on 3C.