New Zealand faces a shivery start to next week as a chilly southwest flow moves north, with several cold fronts bringing snow and bands of rain to the country.
MetService says snow is expected below 300 to 400 metres over the lower South Island on Monday, and snow will likely affect higher roads in the North Island in the middle of the week too.
A MetService graphic video shows the first wave of colder southwesterlies moving over the South Island on Monday.
This southwesterly flow will cover New Zealand on Tuesday and Wednesday, with an embedded front moving northwards over the South Island late Tuesday and Wednesday, and the North Island early Thursday.
"This front is expected to bring a period of rain to the South Island later Tuesday and Wednesday, with snow lowering to low levels in the south and east of the South Island on Wednesday, and possibly the southern and central North Island on Thursday morning," MetService said.
"This snow is likely to affect high country roads, and there is low confidence that snowfall amounts may reach warning criteria above 500 metres in parts of central Otago, inland Dunedin and Fiordland on Wednesday morning."
MetService has issued road snowfall warnings for several passes in the South Island on Monday - Milford Road, Crown Range Road, Lindis Pass (SH8), Porters Pass (SH73), and Arthur's Pass (SH73).
It advises the public to keep up to date with the latest warnings here and the severe weather outlook here.
