Up to half a metre of snow is predicted to fall on a major state highway in Southland, as a cold snap sets in later this week.
The first heavy snow of the season is on the way for much of inland Otago and Southland this weekend, and if the conditions are right, Dunedin and other coastal Otago communities may also get a dusting.
Conditions are likely to cool significantly over the South Island with snow expected in many mountain areas, especially on Friday.
MetService advised today that snow may affect the summit of the Milford Road (State Highway 94) in Southland from overnight on Wednesday until midday on Thursday with up to 2cm settling,
But a lot more is set to fall on Thursday evening until 11pm on Friday, with 40cm to 50cm likely to settle on the road near the Homer Tunnel during this time, with lesser amounts down to 600 metres.
Other alpine passes will also get some snow tomorrow.
Arthur's Pass and Porters Pass (both State Highway 73) in Canterbury are set to get up to 2cm, possibly settling on the road near the summit from 8am until noon.
Meanwhile, MetService is forecasting snow accumulations to reach warning amounts above about 800m for the Canterbury high country south of the Rangitata River, and for Otago west of about Alexandra from Friday.
Snow is forecast in Twizel (Friday-Monday), Omarama (Friday and Saturday), Queenstown (Saturday), Wanaka (Saturday and Monday), Alexandra (Monday), Middlemarch (Saturday) and Invercargill (Saturday), and temperatures could drop as low as -6degC.
