Winemakers in Central Otago are being kept on their toes this summer, with more unseasonal dumpings of snow on the way.
Gibbston Valley Winery Chief Winemaker Chris Keys says the heavy dumping last week was inconveniently timed.
"Tuesday last week there was about 30cm of unseasonal snow [which is] much later than we wanted around here," he says.
"To see so much snow at this time of the year is a big worry."
Mr Keys says the vineyards are beginning to have considerable amounts of shoot growth and this time of year is a very vulnerable stage.
However there has been relief, with sunny weather and higher winds preventing frost from setting in and damaging the shoots.
"We've dodged a bullet to be fair," he says. "Everyone was on full alert so we positioned our helicopters in all our vineyards because we did get notice that a frost was forecast.
"Most of the south regions were sitting around 3degC - that goes a long way when it's frost season."
Despite all the on and off snow there hasn't been any damage yet, they're still on alert in case any more snow causes damage to their growth.
"We've had a really mild winter and the growth looks really good," Mr Keys says.
"At this time of year, snow is not our friend."
Even though the weather may have put winemakers on edge, Mr Keys says the unseasonal weather shouldn't affect their wine.
"The wine is bloody brilliant down here."
Snow has fallen in Queenstown, blanketing the Crown Range in Otago for the second time this month.
The wintry blast brought in five to 10 centimetres overnight, as low as 800m.
Snow on the Crown Ranges (Jeff Aldridge/Newshub.)
Roads in the area are clear, but are expected to become icy. There are snowfall warnings in place from the MetService at Lewis Pass, Porters Pass and Lindis Pass.
At Lewis Pass, State Highway 7 may experience continued snowfall through Friday morning. At Porters, they should have cleared by dawn. And at Lindis, the snow should have stopped falling during the night.
There are no warnings in place for the Napier-Taupo Road (SH5), Desert Road (SH1), Rimutaka Hill Road (SH2), Arthur's Pass (SH73), Haast Pass (SH6), Milford Road (SH94), and the Dunedin to Waitati Highway (SH1).
WeatherWatch says it'll be "mainly sunny after a light frost" in Otago on Friday.
Snow on the Crown Range (Jeff Aldridge/Newshub.)
Most of the country should be dry for the long weekend, with rain perhaps returning on Monday.
The Crown Range in Otago (Jeff Aldridge/Newshub.)
Newshub.
