snow turned to light rain for the moment in Reefton.
We got sent home from work due to 28cm of snow with no power and alot of trees down on the access road.
In Reefton town, i measured 15cm on the outside table.
temp currently 1.1°C - we got to 1.9°C earlier.

only way to travel to christchurch at the moment is a 12.5 hour drive via westport and haast.

The strong southwest flow across the country will keep the weather very unsettled today.

Snow is still likely about Southland where several centimetres of snow could accumulate at elevations above 200m.  The snow is expected to taper off this afternoon.

Morning snow is expected to taper off as well in Westland.  Temperatures should warm enough to send the freezing levels above 500m by mid-morning, so some of that precipitation will change to rain before easing…or ending altogether.

The heavy snow threat moves north today.  Heavy snow is possible for the north-western South Island and higher elevations of the central North Island.  Government forecaster MetService says they are watching these areas very carefully for possible warnings.

Strong winds will be an issue again today .  In fact, MetService has issued Strong Wind Warnings for The Catlins and the districts of Clutha and Dunedin.  South-westerly gales are expected to strengthen this evening.  Pockets of severe gusts of 120 km/h are likely.

Northland, Auckland, Waikato and Bay of Plenty can all expect periods of rain today along with gusty winds.

The far eastern regions of both islands are likely to see some dry weather.  However, it will be gusty in these areas as well.

By WeatherWatch Analyst Howard Joseph
http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/wednesdays-national-forecast-22

Not everyone is out of the woods yet as a wintry blast continues to affect many parts of the country.  As we published this story another surge of squally showers, some with hail and isolated thunderstorms, were surging up the western coastline of New Zealand.

The showers moved up the West Coast this morning and will push up the North Island's west coast across the afternoon and evening.

This is likely to be the last big surge of rough weather for western New Zealand from this event - and even though blustery winds and a few briefly heavy showers will continue through Thursday they should be shorter lived and not as intense with winds easing by evening for most.

However it's a different story on the other main coastline. 

Eastern New Zealand will have winds increasing this afternoon and evening as the low that was once a weather bomb south of Stewart Island morphs into a larger but slightly less intense low and actually starts to drift north eastwards (after tracking south eastwards at the start of the week).  The storm remains centred well out to sea but the gales will slide up and along the eastern coastline.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says these severe gales will brush the coastline but hopefully not cause too many issues.

MetService has, however, issued wind warnings for Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Otago and Southland, which you can find on their website.

Meanwhile the snow level over New Zealand will gradually rise over the next day or so as slightly warmer air starts to move in.  The warmth may not be too noticeable for many of us with temperatures still well down but the slight shift will be enough to stop snow from falling in more populated areas and highways.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says snow is not expected in any main centres on Thursday but a few flurries may still fall over the Desert Road and some Alpine passes in the South Island.  Snow may also affect a few roads around Southland and Otago.

The weather news authority warns motorists that black ice could be severe in some parts of the South Island and central parts of the North Island over the coming days as a large high rolls in from the west locking in the cold air and allowing overnight lows to plummet to their lowest levels so far this week.

- WeatherWatch.co.nz
http://www.weatherwatch.co.nz/content/weather-easing-some-intensifying-others

Developing -- A band of heavy squally showers is moving towards King Country, Taupo, Waikato, Auckland (in that order) - some showers may have hail, gale force winds, and isolated thunder.

WeatherWatch.co.nz via facebook
https://www.facebook.com/#!/WeatherWatch.co.nz

They haven't reached the Western Bay of Plenty yet.

Temperature and Humidity
Temperature   9.4 °C   
Dew Point    7.3 °C
Windchill   7.6 °C   
Humidity   87%
Heat Index   9.4 °C   
Apparent Temperature   6.4 °C
Solar Radiation   0 W/m²   
Evapotranspiration Today   0.00 mm
Rainfall
Rainfall Today   0.0 mm   
Rainfall Rate   0.0 mm/hr
Rainfall This Month   37.7 mm   
Rainfall This Year   628.7 mm
Rainfall Last Hour   0.0 mm   
Last rainfall   2012-06-26 21:54
Wind
Wind Speed (gust)   27 km/h   
Wind Speed (avg)   12 km/h
Wind Bearing   252° WSW   
Beaufort F2   Light breeze
Pressure
Barometer    1013.5 hPa   
Falling slowly   -0.1 hPa/hr

More live weather data at www.ohauitiweather.co.nz

Dont worry I am watching the high temps.
The Lake was 0.2 above Wairoa.
0.8 above Mahia Beach
Well under Nuhaka that had a beaut day today.
I was out there today