The Canterbury region has been told to brace for a "major snow event" as a miserable long weekend approaches.
Canterbury Weather Updates (CWU) says latest data suggests "incredible" snowfall is on the way to Canterbury. Wintry showers and snow flurries on the ranges continue to batter the Otago region.
- Weather: Thunderstorms and hail possible for Auckland, temperatures to plummet across NZ
- Weather: 'Southerly blast' to bring heavy rain, cold and snow
- Weather: 'Big southerly blast' about to hit
Snowfall accumulations may be between 50 and 60cm, falling to between 700 and 800m above sea level, with significant falls as low as between 300 and 400m.
"This system will bring significant snow for a number of our local fields - with Mt Hutt, Porters and Mt Lyford in the firing line," CWU says. "As is always the case this system of weather will play out differently across the region."
Significant snowfall accumulations could fall as south as Lake Tekapo, CWU says.
Key State Highways continue to be battered by heavy rain and strong winds across the South Island, and a number of strong wind warnings are in place.
But it's good news for skiers in the south; Cardrona, near Wanaka, aims to open the McDougall's Chondola and beginner slopes on Saturday.
Resort general manager Bridget Legnavsky told Newshub it received 15cm of snow on Thursday night, and was still snowing on Friday.
Newshub.
