Another polar blast is closing in on New Zealand, bringing colder air and snowfall with it.
Snow showers are expected between Dunedin and Waitati on Thursday afternoon with more expected on Friday afternoon and into the evening, according to MetService.
Wind in coastal Dunedin is also expected to pick up to severe gales in some places from late Friday morning, as well as Clutha, Southland and Stewart Island.
"The slow moving cold change is coming in waves with more surges of polar air coming in over the next 36 hours, before easing this weekend (but then affecting some regions further north and to the east)," forecaster WeatherWatch said in a statement.
"Despite this cold change, there are 'lulls' where it warms up a little more by a degree or two - which then significantly can lift the snow level in the lower South Island."
WeatherWatch said snowfall will continue across Southland and parts of Otago above 400m on Thursday - with flurries to lower levels possible later in the day.
Snow isn't expected to fall to sea level.
"Generally speaking this is a cold event for Southland and Otago in particular (also Fiordland) with snow flurries on the hills and ranges and, from time to time, some sleety falls going lower into places like Gore and Lumsden," WeatherWatch said.
"Snow flurries will also affect the Desert Rd - but accumulation is low and hopefully manageable.
"It's a fairly dry set up for many other regions with sunny and dry weather prevailing - but eastern areas, in particular, may not cool down until others start to warm up."
For the North Island, the coldest temperatures overnight Friday will be in Palmerston North and Rotorua (both 3C) and Napier and Poverty Bay (4C).
"Southern parts [of the North Island] get a bit of cloud and a cool southerly wind without seeing much rain, and it's cool weather but clear skies overhead for Bay of Plenty and Gisborne," MetService meteorologist Angus Hines said.
