Another icy blast on the way

The South Island will bear the brunt of the blast.

Wrap up warm - there's another wintry blast on the way.

Snow is forecast to fall in the South Island today before the big chill creeps up the country in the coming days.

And it will bring icy winds and rain, says duty MetService forecaster Rebekah LaBar.

"It's not looking as bad as the last cold and snowy snap we had - but that doesn't mean it's not going to feel pretty cold," she said.

Temperatures in the main North Island centres were tipped to plunge. Wellington is only expected to scrape a daytime high of 7°C with Auckland dipping to 5°C overnight.

LaBar said the North Island would get fresh westerly winds in the early part of the week, but conditions would gradually deteriorate by Wednesday.

The South Island would bear the brunt of it and LaBar said the MetService was gearing up for some significant snow falls, especially for Fiordland and through mountain areas in the early part of the week.

Although temperatures were not expected to drop to last month's bone-chilling near-record lows, forecasters said the latest wintry blast would feel icy.

In June temperature gauges in parts of the South Island recorded some of the lowest temperatures experienced in New Zealand.

A high-pressure system combined clear skies with a southerly flow and saw Lake Pukaki recording -19.8°C.

New Zealand's coldest temperature on record is -25.6°C, in Ranfurly, Central Otago, on July 17, 1903.

The weather pattern is considered typical of El Nino conditions during the winter in New Zealand.

Road snow warnings were yesterday issued for South Island high country roads including Lewis Pass, Arthur's Pass, Lindis Pass and Milford Road.

LaBar said travel in the North Island might be disrupted midweek, with snow predicted to fall on the Desert Road.

Travellers could expect disruptions and farmers were advised the unusually cold weather was likely to stress stock.