Weather

The same weather system which brought flooding to parts of southeast Australia last week is drifting towards New Zealand.

Otago has recorded the country's lowest temperature and the gustiest wind for January; perfectly fitting Niwa's description of January being cool, windy and unsettled.

Summer may have been mixed - to say the least - but it's looking good for a fine Waitangi weekend for most, the MetService says.

Intense rain predictions for today and tomorrow have caused the Department of Conservation to issue a "high alert" warning for the Young Valley landslip dam in the Mt Aspiring National Park.

Welcome to Central Otago at the height of summer - 25degC one day, snow the next.

Dunedin had more rainfall on Thursday than any day so far this year, MetService figures show.

Snow fell near Dunedin and other parts of the South Island reached near freezing temperature last night as a midsummer cold snap makes its way up the country, the website WeatherWatch says.

Unseasonal weather is forecast for Otago and Southland today, with snow predicted for the area's hills and ranges.

Dunedin benefited from the cold snap which hit the country at the weekend but the Taieri Plain and the rest of the region missed out.

This summer's often wet, cold and windy days show no sign of easing up.