The relatively warm start to the week for many is set to change, with a colder southerly forecast to bring snow to lower levels for much of South Island at the weekend.
A blustery northwest will bring heavy rain to northern and western provinces today and much of tomorrow before the colder south to southwest flow moves in, the Metservice says.
"Bouts of heavy rain in the north and west, and severe gales in the east, will be replaced by squally showers and cold southerlies," meteorologist Tom Adams said today.
Snow warnings are in force for South Islands higher roads from this afternoon, including the alpine passes Mr Adams said, but as the cold starts to gain ground, snow is forecast to lower levels by the end of the week.
On the Milford Road, 10cm to 15cm of snow could accumulate near the Homer Tunnel from tonight until tomorrow night, with lesser amounts down to about 700 metres.
Later in the week a system of cold Antarctic air would move up to the South Island, Mr Adams said.
"There's already good talk of Southland getting some heavy snow."
There are a number of warnings and watches in place for severe weather and these can be found on the Metservice website.
