A fast-moving front has caused travel disruption in the South Island and severe gales in the lower North Island, with several cars stuck in snow near Lake Pūkaki.
Severe gales are buffeting the lower North Island, with gusts of up to 157km/h recorded in exposed spots, as the front brings snow and rain to parts of central New Zealand.
Orange strong wind warnings are in place for Wellington until 1pm, and for Wairarapa, the Tararua District and Hawke's Bay south of Hastings until 4pm. MetService said severe gale west to northwest winds could gust to 120km/h in exposed places.
MetService meteorologist Silvia Martino told 1News "many places in the North Island will ... see a brief burst of heavy rain as the front sweeps north during today, but since it's moving quickly, warning levels of rain aren't expected."
Some rain watches and warnings apply in parts of the North Island.
The strongest wind gusts since midnight had been recorded at Cape Turnagain (157km/h), Castlepoint (130km/h) and the summit of the Remutaka Hill Road (120km/h).
"Although those are all pretty exposed places - the strongest gust in a more populated spot was in Kelburn (83km/h)," she said in a statement.
In Wellington, the northwesterlies are expected to switch to strong or gale southerlies around 12pm, briefly gusting to 90km/h, with minimal chances of a red warning upgrade.
MetService said winds further north and east should ease from the south this afternoon.
A yellow strong wind watch is in place until 6pm for Hawke's Bay about and north of Hastings, with a moderate chance of being upgraded to a warning.
Another watch covers Horowhenua, the Kapiti Coast and the Marlborough Sounds until 1pm, though MetService rated the chance of an upgrade there as low.
An orange heavy snow warning applies for Canterbury High Country and Plains near the foothills, and south of Arthur's Pass until 2pm.
North of Arthur's Pass, a yellow heavy snow watch is in place from 11am to 3pm, with rain expected to turn to snow above 200m. Road snowfall warnings remain in place for Lewis Pass, Arthur's Pass, Porters Pass and Lindis Pass.
An orange heavy rain warning is in place for the Tararua Range from 10am to 3pm.
A further 40 to 60mm is expected there, with peak rates of 15 to 20mm an hour from late morning.
Martino said stations in the ranges had already recorded just over 50mm since midnight.
A yellow heavy rain watch is in place for Buller until midday, where rainfall may approach warning criteria about the ranges.
Travel disruption in the south
The snow had already disrupted travel by late morning.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said several vehicles had become stuck on State Highway 8 near Lake Pukaki in the Mackenzie Basin, and road crews were ploughing snow so they could get out.
State Highway 73 between Springfield and Castle Hill, including Porters Pass, was closed to towing vehicles, and snow chains were essential.
In Otago, NZTA asked drivers to take extra care on State Highway 8 between Omarama and Tarras, including Lindis Pass, State Highway 85 between Omakau and Kyeburn, and the Crown Range Road.
The agency urged people to check the latest weather and road conditions before travelling, especially inland.
It said on Saturday that many families were expected to be on the road this weekend for the start of the school holidays.
In Christchurch, the temperature peaked at 16 degrees at 6am before falling to 6 degrees by about 9am, with wind chill making it feel like 2 degrees.
A yellow strong wind watch is also in place for the Chatham Islands from 6pm to midnight. MetService's next update is due at 9pm.
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