Sleety showers are expected along the higher parts of the Desert Rd today and this may turn to snow for a time, the Metservice says.
About 1cm-2cm of snow could accumulate on the summit of the road between 9am and 3pm, it said
A few snow showers were also expected in the morning along Milford Rd and Lewis Pass in the South Island.
Gales were forecast this morning for Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough.
Forecaster Gerard Barrow said southerly gales about the Kaikoura Coast, Wellington and the Wairarapa south coast were expected to rise to severe gale in exposed places for a time from late this morning, with gusts of 120kmh likely.
Winds of such strength had the potential to lift roofs, topple powerlines and trees and make driving hazardous, he said.
