Sodden West Coasters are drying off and counting their losses after "blizzard-like" conditions ripped through the region and killed dozens of cattle last week.
WeatherWatch said wind chill in the region last Tuesday and Wednesday made it feel as cold as minus 15C in some places.
Federated Farmers West Coast president Katie Milne said many farmers lost two or three cattle due to the weather, a few lost around 10, and one farmer suffered "major" stock losses.
The weather was unlike anything to have hit the region before, in terms of how widespread it was.
"It was a howling easterly over here with horizontal ice pellets - it wasn't hail, it was different than hail - it wasn't sleet, it wasn't rain. There were trees blown on the road and you couldn't hardly stand up.
"I lived in Canada for a few years and it got to minus 10C but I was running around in a sweatshirt because there was no wind but when you're wet and cold and it's windy it's pretty uncomfortable."
The local community was rallying around the farmer who had lost so many stock.
"It is a terrible tragic thing that's happened really and it's never happened before"
The West Coast was fine and dry today, and warmer winds were expected to raise temperatures elsewhere in the South Island next week.
The North Island is also forecast to get some snow showers, with snow showers forecast for both the Desert Road and the Rimutaka Hill Road.
From 3pm to midnight 1-2cm could accumulate on the Desert Road above 600m, while the Rimutaka Hill Road could receive the same amount from 1pm to 11pm.
