It appears high winds and lightning also caused damage north of the Waimangaroa Bridge overnight. 11 properties remain without power whilst it is repaired which is expected to be completed at 1pm today.
Meanwhile, Castle Hill residents were left cut off after a night of heavy snowfall.
Waka Kotahi closed State Highway 73 from Springfield to Arthurs Pass, due to snow. The road was fully reopened at about 9.30am.
People enjoying the snow on Friday. Photo / George Heard
Caution is urged on SH65 Maruia to Springs Junction due to flooding across the highway.
A heavy rain watch is currently in place for Westland, Buller and the Nelson lakes until midnight.
Late this afternoon & tonight, our high-res modelling is indicating the threat for damaging wind gusts as line of showers & thunderstorms moves from the west of the South Island to the lower North Island.
Forecaster weatherwatch.co.nz says an active cold front is moving into the western side of New Zealand today.
It says large hail has fallen on the West Coast with a damaging shower producing hail larger than grapes.
Large hail stones fell in Kumara on the West Coast this morning. Photo / Andrew Sinton-White
The Otago Daily Times has reported Icy roads caused several trucks to become stuck on the Lindis Pass (SH8) earlier today.
About six trucks became stuck around the summit about 2.15am due to the weather, including one truck which jack-knifed.
Sergeant Tony Woodbridge, of Oamaru, said police from Cromwell, Kurow, and Oamaru had attended.
''One [truck] they've tried to get out and with the skidding, they've jackknifed,'' Sgt Woodbridge said.
There were no injuries to report, he said.
Niwa says its modeling is indicating a threat of damaging wind gusts later this afternoon and evening as a line of showers and thunderstorms moves from the west of the South Island to the lower North Island.
South along SH8 towards Lindis Pass Summit Lookout at 10.50am on Friday. Photo / Supplied
And at 10am, Metservice released a number of additional weather warnings in the south.
An orange strong wind warning comes into force for the Marlborough Sounds from 9pm.
A road snowfall warning is in place for the Milford Rd until 9pm on Saturday.
Warnings have also been issued for the Arthur's (9pm Friday-6pm Saturday), Porters (9pm Friday-3pm Saturday), Haast (9pm Friday-3pm Saturday), Lewis (9pm Friday-6pm Saturday) and Lindis (6pm-midnight) passes.
Communications Meteorologist Lewis Ferris said the South Island isn't out of the woods with this weather event yet, and there's potential for more snow on the alpine passes.
Snow on the Crown Range on Friday morning. Photo / George Heard
He said if anyone's planning to travel, they need to stay up to date with the forecast.
Much of the country is on a weather watch with 26 weather warnings in place across New Zealand.
