Flooding and snow has struck state highways in the lower South Island, as MetService warns of "a real change to what we've seen over the last few days".
A cold front over the southern South Island was forecast to move northwards and was expected to bring a period of heavy rain to Fiordland and the Westland ranges, and heavy snow to low levels for inland Otago and the Mackenzie Basin today.
The New Zealand Transport Agency this afternoon said roading crews were assessing snow on SH6 between Lowther and Parawa in Southland.
Surface flooding had also been reported in places across state highways 96 and 99 and, most recently, on SH1 in central Dunedin.
MetService meteorologist John Law earlier told 1News that most of the severe weather watches for rain and road snowfall warnings "are going to be as we head through the second half of today and in towards the early parts of Thursday morning".
He said the incoming cold front would bring "a real change to what we've seen over the last few days".
"It's above about 600m, so it's still up about those higher parts, but a real indication of cold air pushing back behind us, a real change to what we've seen over the last few days."
Law said "one of the things that's quite interesting is this is cold air behind it".
"If you're in places like Dunedin, it's probably the warmest it's going to be all day now," he said at 6am.
"Once this cold air comes up behind it, the temperature is actually going to drop away.
"So Dunedin [residents] will be waking up and thinking it's not a bad looking story, but heading towards the afternoon temperatures are more likely to be around about 8C compared to the 14C or so we've got at the moment."
"So it's going to be a real change for the team down there."
Current watches and warnings
Heavy Rain Watch
Westland District ranges – expires at midnight.
Heavy Snow Watch
Central Otago, Queenstown Lakes District and Mackenzie Basin – 10 hours until 2am Thursday.
Road Snowfall Warnings
Arthur's Pass (SH73) – eight hours until 7am Thursday.
Porters Pass (SH73) – 10 hours until 7am Thursday.
Lindis Pass (SH8) – 17 hours until 7am Thursday.
Crown Range Road – 15 hours until 3am Thursday.
Milford Road (SH94) – nine hours until 5pm today.
SHARE ME