Dannevirke: Snow in ranges, welcome rain

Snow down low on the Ruahine Ranges and the foothills behind Dannevirke yesterday morning. Photo / Christine McKay

The Antarctic blast across the country left Dannevirke residents shivering under their duvets when the temperature dropped to 2C overnight Monday.

And for those who caught an early morning glance at the Ruahine Ranges, yes that was the first snowfall of winter. But with 105mm and more of rain in the past 48 hours, much of the snow hasn't settled.

By 8am yesterday, the temperature had risen to just 6C and the MetService was predicting the weather to improve, with the rain disappearing until Saturday.

Norsewood weather-watcher Lyn McConchie said it was cold and wet in the village, with 125mm of rain so far this month.

"It's definitely nippy around the edges this morning," she said. "My log fire won't draw for some reason so I'm holed up in the bedroom with the heater going."

And the rain was just what the paddocks needed.

"The ground has been really thirsty and all this rain has just soaked in. There is no water lying around," she said.