A bitterly cold snap has sent temperatures plunging in the south, with snow in Dunedin.

It started snowing on and off in the city about 8am, though flurries were not settling.

The miserable weather prompted A-league football side Sydney FC to cancel a planned practice at Forrester Park, north of the city.

Snowfalls appears to be limited to the Dunedin hills. A Southland farmer said he had "more rain than snow at this stage", but said that could change later on.

Cardrona skifield was benefiting from the conditions - it was covered in fresh snow after receiving a 5cm drop last night and more snow showers today.

There had been one weather-related crash, police said.

A Dunedin police spokesman said the weather was starting to take a turn for the worse, but it hadn't otherwise made much of an impact on traffic just yet.

NZTA had issued ice warnings for the Dunedin - Waitati highway, and had increased their earlier ice warning on State Highway 8 from Fairlie to Cromwell.

MetService duty forecaster John Law said a strong, cold, south to southwest flow was spreading its way across the country, dragging brisk winds and low temperatures with it.

Law said it wasn't a huge band moving up the country, so snow will take the form of scattered flurries across primarily coastal areas in the lower South Island throughout today, affecting areas further north tomorrow.

Southland, Otago, and Fjiordland will get the brunt of it, as scattered snow showers are expected at 200 to 300 metres throughout the day.

Brisk southerly winds will see temperatures plunge, and will likely affect roads and potentially create travel disruptions.

Banks Peninsula could expect blizzard-like conditions this evening, with strong winds and snowfall from 200 to 300 metres.

Wind-chill temperatures may reach sub-zero in areas on the eastern coast.

The rain is likely to persist to tomorrow morning, with a possibly of sleety showers for Christchurch city.

MetService has issued a heavy snow warning for Wellington, with a possibility snow will accumulate to warning levels about the hills of Wellington, south of Wairarapa, inland Whanganui, and in Taihape.

stuff.co.nz

Image Aoraki, Mount Cook National Park this morning, thanks to the Metservice.