Don't get the jandals out just yet.

The twister was captured by local resident Alesha Plew as she and her husband were driving along State Highway 1 north of Ashburton.

Snow is forecast for areas above 400m in Southland and 500m in Otago and Canterbury.

A severe weather watch has been issued for coastal Otago and Fiordland.

"A lot of cold and wintry weather is on the way down south."

First snowstorm this season brought several inches of snow.

Ten fire engines and a command unit are fighting the blaze and a helicopter is on standby.

Don't pack away your winter wardrobe, there's rain, hail and snow in the forecast.

Metservice Weather Christchurch: November 17 - 19

Metservice Weather Auckland: November 17 - 19

Fine weather ahead of unseasonably wintry conditions set to hit South Island.

The settled weather that New Zealand has enjoyed for the past few days is set to leave us.

We can thank a high pressure ridge for the warm stable weather, MetService says.

MetService Weather Christchurch: November 13th

MetService Weather Wellington: November 13th

MetService Weather Auckland: November 13th

MetService Weather New Zealand: November 13th - 14th

Chance of thunderstorms in central New Zealand and Otago this afternoon.

Humid conditions are not expected to stick around as drier weather is forecast.

The 25 year 9 students were trapped in Mt Aspiring National Park.

A mother of 11 from the Gloriavale community has died after being swept away in front of her family in a swollen West Coast river.

Rejoice Steadfast was watching the swollen river with her family when a bank collapsed.

A bridge near Arthur's Pass has been swept away by floodwater.