Valid from Tuesday 22 July 2014 to Friday 25 July 2014

A strong, cold south to southwest flow covers New Zealand through to early Wednesday, bringing snow showers to low levels about southern and eastern parts of the South Island and also about higher parts of the southern and central North Island.

There is a low risk of snowfalls reaching warning criteria above 300 metres in southern Fiordland, Southland and southern parts of Otago, including Dunedin on Tuesday, although this risk is considered higher on Monday. There is also a broad low risk of significant snowfalls above 400 metres over eastern parts of Canterbury north of about Ashburton up through the Kaikoura Coast, Wellington and Wairarapa. However, this risk is considered moderate about Banks Peninsula and southeastern parts of Wairarapa above 300 metres on Tuesday.

There is also a low to moderate risk of snowfalls reaching warning criteria over the central North Island above 500 metres on Tuesday and early Wednesday, especially about the Wanganui Hill Country, Taihape and Tongariro National Park, as indicated on the chart. Finally, there is also a low risk of significant snowfalls over the hills and ranges of Hawkes Bay and Gisborne,especially north of Wairoa.

Even if snowfalls in these areas do not reach warning amounts they are still likely to cause disruption to travellers about inland roads of Southland, Otago, including the northern motorway out of Dunedin, also about Banks Peninsula, as well as higher level roads about the central and lower North Island such as the Rimutaka Hill Road, Desert Road and even the alternative routes through National Park.
Metservice.com