
Nick Parkes, who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support farm in Owaka, said it started snowing on Friday morning and hasn't really stopped.

"We've ended up with about four inches of snow around the house and it's a complete white-out on the farm."
Parkes said his farm is up higher so he's used to a decent snow dump a couple of times a year.

"We usually take the hoggets off crop and put them in a sheltered block, our ewes that we shore a couple weeks back we've put them into a bush block out the back so they have ample feed and shelter."
There's no sign of thawing yet, apart from on the road where people have been driving up and down to have a look at the snow, he said.

Heavy snow warnings were issued by MetService for Central Otago, the Southern Lakes, Dunedin, Clutha, Southland and Stewart Island, and Fiordland about and south of Doubtful Sound, lasting into Monday in some places.
Heavy Rain could also be on the horizon for Southland and Clutha, with a weather watch posted by MetService for Monday.

Strong wind warnings or watches were also in place for Hawke's Bay and Tararua, Marlborough, Nelson, the Canterbury high country, Dunedin, Clutha, Southland, and Stewart Island. While NIWA warned areas experiencing strong winds could see power cuts.
Weather should settle by Thursday, MetSevice said.
By Sally Murphy