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Castle Hill area looking towards Porter Heights. - Source: Supplied by Francis Vallance. -
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A bitter chill is moving up the South Island tonight, with snow expected to fall in Otago and Southland.
MetService said gale southwesterlies lashing parts of the Catlins and Otago Peninsula this evening are expected to reach Banks Peninsula early tomorrow morning.
Snow showers are expected to near sea level in Southland and eastern Otago and to 200 metres about Banks Peninsula tonight.
Around 5-10cm of snow could accumulate above 300-400 metres in the Clutha District, including the Catlins, and on Banks Peninsula.
The snow showers are expected to ease in eastern Otago and Southland tomorrow morning, and in Banks Peninsula in the afternoon.
Meteorologist Dan Corbett predicts that, "while snow over the east and south of the South Island is not expected to be nearly as widespread or heavy as last week's, the combination of strong winds, low temperatures and showery conditions will feel seriously chilly."
The Chatham Islands will also be affected, with wintry conditions expected over the next few days.
"The Chathams will bear the brunt of the cold southwesterlies with very strong winds, squally thunderstorms, hail and sleet from time to time," Corbett said.
Around 1-2cm of snow is expected to fall on Desert Rd overnight, and a further 1 to 2cm could accumulate on the road above 700 metres tomorrow afternoon.
Later in the week, frosts are expected to become widespread, and may even reach as far north as Auckland.
Much of the South Island had a reprieve from the wintry weather on the weekend, after snowfall brought parts of Canterbury and Kaikoura to a standstill on Wednesday.
Thousands were left facing a freezing night without power, and all Air New Zealand flights in and out of Christchurch were cancelled.
Even those on foot were in peril, with ambulance crews called out to 24 separate incidents of people falling on icy paths.
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