Heavy snow is falling in parts of Canterbury and Marlborough, closing roads, cutting power and causing flight cancellations.
Much of the South Island saw the mercury drop to near zero overnight, with Christchurch and Dunedin forecast to get highs today of only 5 degrees celsius.
Snow has already fallen overnight in some parts of North Canterbury, including Hanmer Springs, and is falling close to the coasts and on the Port Hills. Snow has fallen to ground level in the city.
Christchurch airport is open, but the snow has caused flight cancellations and delays. The airport's website appeared to be down this morning.
Ski fields will have got a good start to the season overnight while the wind, rain and cold temperatures have now arrived in Wellington, which also had thunderstorms overnight.
Trees were brought down in the capital and torrential rain caused extensive surface flooding overnight.
Speed restrictions are in place, dropping to 80km/h on highways between Johnsonville and Wellington, and police are urging motorists to drive with extreme caution.
Orion said up to 500 customers in the Springston area lost power overnight due to rain and high wind, but it has since been restored.
Meanwhile NZTA is warning of possible surface flooding on Auckland's Northwestern and Northern motorways as the king tide hits about 9am, while surface flooding has been reported about State Highway 1 north of Wellington.
MetService said a deep lower is expected to approach the upper South Island from the west this morning, then weaken slightly and pass east over the central North Island tonight.
A cold front, which is bringing heavy snow to Canterbury and parts of Marlborough and heavy rain to Westland, Buller, Nelson and the north of Marlborough, sits about Cook Strait and is expected to move north.
Heavy rain warnings are in place for Westland north of Hokitika, Buller, Nelson and Marlborough north of Seddon, with 80mm to 120mm forecast in the 18 hours from 6am.
MetService is also warning of strong winds - up to 130kmh in exposed areas - about Nelson, Buller and Westland.
A heavy snow warning is in place for Canterbury and Marlborough south of Seddon, with 50cm to 100cm of snow possible above 300 metres in the 18 hours from 6am, but 10 to 40cm south of about Lake Tekapo. Between 100m and 300m above sea level 15cm to 40cm may accumulate, but 40 to 60cm about Banks Peninsula.
Lesser amounts may fall down to sea level, including in Christchurch.
MetService warned the heavy snow will make travelling difficult and cause stress for livestock. The heavy snow could also damage structures such as powerlines.
State Highway 8 from Fairlie to Twizel and Lewis Pass (SH7 from the Hanmer turnoff to Springs Junction) is closed due to snow, while restrictions are in place, with chains essential, on SH7 from Springs Junction to Reefton, Milford Road SH94 and Arthurs Pass SH73. Caution is also advised for motorists driving between Harihari and Haast, due to high winds.
Queenstown Lakes District Council said there are icy conditions across the district, and chains must be used when driving along the Crown Range.
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June 21, 2012, 08:25:53 AM