Winter’s icy fingers touch Christchurch

Vehicles and pedestrians negotiate the hail stones in Kilmore St Christchurch last night after a violent electical storm. Picture / Fotopress

Forecasters are warning that winter is well on the way. Christchurch has been pounded by marble-sized hail overnight and the Port Hills are draped in snow. Snow has also blanketed the Central Plateau's Desert Road.

MetService said up to five centimetres of snow is likely to fall on the Milford and Lindis Pass Roads.

Severe wind warnings are in place for Southland and coastal areas of the South Island and will move east of the North Island later today.

Forecaster Mark Pascoe said the cold wintry blast will last until at least tomorrow afternoon. He said it will be an unpleasant weekend in a lot of places.

- Newstalk ZB