Warnings are in place for motorists as a wild weather system lashing the country bears down on the South.
Gale-force winds and heavy rain battered the North Island overnight and the weather system is now making its way down the country.
MetService says a deep low lying west of the North Island is expected to move over the South Island early tomorrow, while associated fronts are predicted to move across central and southern areas today.
Heavy rain is forecast for Dunedin and North Otago from mid-afternoon until tonight, while snow is expected down to 500 metres in parts of northern Otago and the Southern Lakes through the same period.
The Canterbury high country could cop some heavy snow (20 to 30cm) above 800 metres until about midnight tonight.
Snow has prompted the New Zealand Transport Agency to issue advisories for several South Island highways today, including SH8 the Lindis Pass and SH94,Te Anau-Milford.
- Check highway conditions here
Most of Otago can expect a wet, windy day tomorrow then conditions should ease to provide some respite on Thursday before another wintry blast brings rain and snow to many areas on Friday and Saturday.
The series of lows were a typical spring pattern - fitting for the first day of the season today, WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said.
"These systems are so big they're covering the whole country. It's not just for one or two regions, it's pretty much for the whole country."
The rain should ease for most by Sunday or Monday, when a cold snap could be on the cards, Mr Duncan said.
"It's not just one clear-cut weather system, there's two or three. They're surrounding each other and egging each other on to bring more rain.
"After these systems go by we tend to get a cold blast of air. I wouldn't be surprised if we got a cold snap then back to the warmer and drier weather."
