Yesterday, temperatures plummeted to single figures as snow fell to low levels.
Metservice meteorologist Tui McInnes said more of the same was forecast for this week.
A low-pressure system was due to hit Queenstown, bringing a "low chance of heavy snow" to 400m, heavy winds and rain, Mr McInnes said.
"The likes of the Crown Range highway [between Queenstown and Wanaka], those are the places people really need to start taking care."
Snow settled on Crown Range hills and roadside gravel yesterday, but the road was passable.
Temperatures would not rise above the early teens during the week, Mr McInnes predicted.
"I think what happened last week was that it gave this illusion that spring is over.
"Unfortunately we are still in spring and we still are in the changeable weather, and that’s exactly what we’ve experienced this weekend."
Motorists should pack snow chains and keep an eye on severe weather alerts if they planned to drive over the Crown Range, he said.
- Mandy Cooper
