Snow and ice have caused delayed starts for schools in Dunedin and made conditions treacherous on the roads, prompting warnings for people not to drive.
City bus services are also affected, while the wintry blast is bringing disruptions to much of rest of the country.
The Otago Primary Principals Association said all primary and intermediate schools, and DKA Dunedin Kindergartens between Mosgiel to Port Chalmers to Waikouaiti would have a delayed start of 10:45am.
The city's high schools are also starting later, as is Otago Polytechnic.
Orbus says that owing to the the weather and road conditions, its services are "significantly impacted" this morning.
"Our drivers will do their best to operate routes in flatter areas of town but may not be able to access many of the hillier areas of town if it is unsafe to do so.
"Palmerston route 1 services and all Ridge Runner route 15 services are currently suspended. Opoho services are terminating at the Botanic Gardens."
The Dunedin City Council says hail, snow and freezing conditions overnight have caused treacherous driving conditions, with snow and widespread black ice in many areas, particularly in Dunedin’s hill suburbs.
"Contractors have been out gritting roads overnight, but conditions mean they haven’t been able to reach all areas."
Further north snow was reportedly falling in Christchurch and Wellington this morning.
RNZ reports that in the North Island, State Highway 5 is closed between Napier and Taupō until further notice due to snow. Detours are available via Palmerston North or Gisborne but Waka Kotahi warns drivers to "please note, this detour will add at least six hours to your journey time".
SH1 Desert Road is also closed due to snow until further notice, between Rangipo and Waiouru.
A road snowfall warning is in place until 10am Tuesday for SH2 Remutaka Hill Road.
Being able to make snow-angels in the Octagon was never really going to be a possibility, but for a brief moment, Dunedin CBD workers left their offices with hope yesterday afternoon when snow started falling to sea level.
Sadly for some, as forecast, it failed to settle.
What did settle later in the evening was hail.
A heavy hailstorm hit Dunedin leaving a white coating.
Minor crashes and traffic incidents were reported around the city, cars became stuck in Stuart St and State Highway 1 between Leith Valley and Waitati, north of Dunedin, was closed about 8.45pm.
Drivers reported backed up traffic on the Southern Motorway about 9pm.
The Otago Regional Council suspended all Dunedin bus services due to dangerous driving conditions also about 9pm.
MetService meteorologist John Law said a front sent cold air northwards over the South Island, turning scattered showers to snow and hail, which brought a "distinctly wintry feel" to Southland and Otago.
While the worst of the weather would sharply clear away to the east today, temperatures this week would remain cooler than the region had experienced recently, he said.
"We had passing snow showers reasonably frequently — the snow didn’t settle but it did cause quite a few casualties during the night.
"I haven’t worked out the percentage loss yet but it’s been quite noticeable.
"It happens from time to time. Hopefully it’s only a short blast and it doesn’t last too long."
Federated Farmers Otago president and Lawrence farmer Mark Patterson said most farmers in his area would not start lambing for another couple of weeks, so yesterday’s light dusting of snow and bitter temperatures had not caused any casualties that he knew of.
He said the cold weather had been forecast well in advance and farmers had prepared for it by putting stock in more sheltered areas.
Aside from the occasional shower, the rest of the week is expected to be mainly clear as a ridge of high pressure builds across southern and central New Zealand.
But the longer-range forecast shows more snow may be on the way early next week.
john.lewis@odt.co.nz/ODT online
