Winter showed its teeth for the first time in Wanganui and surrounding areas yesterday.
The wintry blast is great news for Ruapehu skifields, and both Turoa and Whakapapa are hoping to open this weekend after receiving around 15cm of snow.
MetService meteorologist John Law said Wanganui's temperature failed to reach double figures yesterday, with a high of just 9.7C. However, with a strong cold south-westerly wind it felt much colder than that, he said.
Mr Law said Wanganui received 22mm of rain in the 24 hours to 2pm yesterday. "But most of that fell as heavy showers, especially in the early hours of the morning. And there was a fair bit of thunder and hail mixed in with that, too."
The Whanganui River peaked yesterday at 5.5 metres at Pipiriki.