The cold weather that closed several schools and forced road closures around the South yesterday is not quite ready to leave, with motorists advised to be wary of black ice and frosts over the next few days.
MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said the cold blast could still cause issues first thing in the morning over the next few days.
Today should be generally fine, but there was the possibility of showers this evening in Central Otago.
Tomorrow's forecast was similar, but it would be ''a bit cooler''.
Saturday was expected to be relatively fine.
Although there was no heavy rain in the forecast, the cold air was ''lingering'' in inland areas.
''Those places can expect frosts and possibly black ice in some spots.''
A short, sharp cold snap overnight yesterday brought heavy rain and snow to inland Otago and Southland, forcing seven schools to close yesterday.
Tapanui School, Blue Mountain College (Tapanui), Heriot School, Northern Southland College (Lumsden), Lumsden School, Mossburn School and Garston School pupils all got the day off.
Riverstones Early Learning Centre in Lumsden and Kidz Way Early Learning Centre in Tapanui also closed.
Blue Mountain College administrator Barbara Hanna said the Tapanui area awoke to a covering of snow after the storm.
''It was a very unusual storm ... I've never heard rain like it. It was so heavy and you'd think that snow wouldn't normally lie after that but, gee whizz. There's a good covering [of snow].''
The roads had started to clear yesterday afternoon.
Central Otago and the Queenstown Lakes district were also hit by the snow.
There were a few white hills and gardens near Queenstown and Arrowtown, although the snow did not settle on local roads or in town centres.
The mountains had a thicker covering, with snow down to 300m around Wanaka, including 33cm of fresh snow at Cardrona Alpine Resort.
A section of the Routeburn Track was closed by snow. The Department of Conservation (Doc) advised the alpine section of track would still be closed today as there was 25cm of snow at Routeburn Falls Hut and 40cm in the Harris Basin.
Doc Wakatipu operations manager Geoff Owen said trampers already on the track could either backtrack or wait at the huts and campgrounds for the snow to clear.
The Milford Track was still open, but Doc was monitoring the forecast and conditions closely.
Queenstown Lakes District Council communications adviser Jimmy Sygrove said most of the snow in the district fell in Gibbston, Kingston and a few of the resort's hill suburbs.
Council contractors worked to clear Crown Range Rd yesterday morning.
There were reports of fallen tree branches across the basin and minor localised flooding.
Naseby got about 50mm of snow, while Ranfurly Four Square Maniototo employees said Oturehua had 36mm of snow, but any snow in Ranfurly was gone by 10am.
Snow was also reported in the hills behind Dunedin, around Lee Stream.
