After a tease of summer last week, a blast of cold weather is forecast to hit the country over the next few days and it might have a big impact on farmers.
NIWA Forecaster Chris Brandolino told The AM Show that an incoming bout of severe weather could be a danger to sheep and cattle.
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"Pretty big livestock impact here because the snow, the cold and the wind, and the [temperature] will be single digits or even sub-zero," said Mr Brandolino.
"Any cattle you can, get them into protection and out of the wind".
Mr Brandolino said the "very busy" weather week will also feature thunderstorms later in the week, as well as strong gusts for Invercargill and coastal Otago.
Wednesday will likely be the worst for the North Island, but the South Island will receive most of the impact, with snow likely to accumulate north of Gore and west of Middlemarch.
While snow this close to summer is not unheard of, it is a rare occurrence.
There is a heavy snow warning in place for Otago, Inland Clutha and Southland from 11pm on Sunday to 6am Tuesday.
A heavy snow watch is in place for Southern Lakes, Eastern Fiordland and Inland Dunedin from early Monday morning to midday on Tuesday.
A heavy rain watch is in place for Clutha, Dunedin and North Otago from 4am on Monday to 9pm on Tuesday.
Newshub.
