Wanganui is having exceptional April weather - and for all the wrong reasons.
MetService forecaster Georgina Griffiths said the city was on track to have one of its wettest Aprils on record.
As of 11am yesterday, 163mm of rain had fallen on the city.
The highest rainfall Wanganui had recorded for April was 185mm.
And a cold snap like yesterday's happens on average once every 20 years, according to Ms Griffiths.
The wettest day for Wanganui was Monday, with 45.6mm of rain falling in a 24-hour period.
"That isn't a record, but about once a year on average, Wanganui receives rainfall in excess of 40mm, so it was notable," Ms Griffiths said.
Yesterday the temperature in Wanganui didn't get above 12C - a far cry from a week ago when the city was still basking in 25C.
"The temperature contrast between last week and this week has been very sharp.
"A major shock to the system," Ms Griffiths said.
Wanganui hasn't been alone in experiencing wintry, wet weather.
Waiouru dropped to -1C overnight, and there were snow flurries on the Desert Rd as low as 600m, and settling above 800m.
The Manawatu Gorge, near Palmerston North, is expected to be closed for about two weeks after a slip closed the road.
Unseasonable snow has fallen in Canterbury, Otago, Southland and Fiordland.
Meanwhile, the northern half of the North Island was rattled by thunderstorms in the early hours of yesterday morning, with more than 80 lightning strikes recorded there.
The good news is that the weather is forecast to improve, Ms Griffiths said.
"Things settle down a little for Wanganui now - the worst is pretty much over.
"A few showers hang in there today but Thursday and Friday look a lot drier, and somewhat warmer," she said.
Wanganui fire Senior Station Officer Gary Wilson said firefighters were called to Wanganui East yesterday afternoon to pump water from three properties that had become waterlogged.
