Snow and hail continue to plaster parts of Otago, with coastal areas buffeted badly by the falls and by high winds. As usual, it is causing disruption and frustration to schools, businesses and those dependent on transport links.
What is unusual this time, though, is how far north the frigid air stream is extending its icy grasp.
Wellington is wearing a white winter coat, Wanganui has had snow lying for the first time since 1974 and Auckland is shivering.
The snow, even in the South, is still uncommon enough to cause mixed emotions. Dunedin children, many of whom were disappointed that the last fall this year came in the school holidays, have a "snow day" or two as bonus time off school.
Sometimes this provides the chance to craft snow constructions, to slide down hills, to throw snowballs and to frolic outdoors. Unfortunately, this time the wind is especially cold and conditions bleaker than after most snowfalls.
North Island students hanging out for the novelty of snow that they, like the rest of the city, missed out on last year will also be finding romantic images fail to match reality.
The snow might make for pretty pictures but the accompanying weather this time is bitter indeed. That chill wind finds every crack in a draughty flat.
Those who come from continental United States or Canada or parts of central and northern Europe must wonder at our inability to cope. While ice on steep roads creates serious difficulties, some people and some authorities are too ready to give in to inclement conditions.
Main highways should, except in the very worst conditions, be open to suitably equipped vehicles.
A city like Dunedin should be able to function more than it does. Basics like bread and milk, now largely from Christchurch, and the newspaper and mail should get through on almost all occasions.
This newspaper and its staff, including the hardy paper deliverers, have a proud record of doing everything possible to get the paper produced, printed and into letter boxes.
The Dunedin City Council and district councils, supplementing the Land Transport Authority on State Highways, cannot clear and grit every road to everyone's satisfaction. A sensible compromise is to keep the main arterial routes open.
Motorists, for their part, should eschew car travel if there are significant dangers, a lack of traction, and certainly if they lack suitable experience. A regular problem is abandoned cars blocking roads for others. Those without appropriate skills or vehicles should make other arrangements.
And because Dunedin is a small city, many can wrap up and walk even if the distances are more than they are used to, and especially if they live on the flat. Others, if they do not need to be at school or work, can stay at home.
Although the timing was not quite spot on, weather forecasting has improved markedly during the past 10 years. The forecasters these days sometimes veer on the cautious side, not wanting to be caught out as badly as has happened in the past. Their predictions this week have been close.
Particularly disconcerting, therefore, are their forecasts of snow showers continuing well into the week. Let us hope they are wrong in this and the snow can melt quickly.
This storm is being described by some weather analysts as a one in 15-year event, in part because of its predicted duration and partly because of its northern reach.
When the snow flakes began to fall in a frenetic flurry on Sunday afternoon they elicited a tinge of excitement. That novelty, however, did not take long to wear off, and businesses are suffering, schools falling behind and power bills soaring.
Let us hope the skies soon clear, the wind drops and the snow melts.
