Autumn chill sets in for the South Island

The Autumn chill set in for the South Island over the weekend. Photo / Getty Images

Autumn chills have set in for Otago and other parts of the South Island, with a further bite on the way.

Otago woke this morning to the chilliest start of the year so far, with overnight temperatures of -0.9C in Dunedin, -0.5C in Alexandra, while Queenstown recorded its coldest morning of 0.2C, MetService tweeted.

At 7:02am, Queenstown just saw it's coldest temperature of the year so far of 0.2°C🥶 Safe to say, it was a chilly morning!

See how temps warm up today in your spot at https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^MM pic.twitter.com/EpT5tDbnrY

— MetService (@MetService) April 25, 2021

A front moving over the South Island had introduced a lot of cold air into the region, sinking the mercury lower, MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said.

"What that did is it brought in a lot of cold air behind it, and the sky was fairly clear overnight, so that served to further drop temperatures.

"And then with that we saw a cold morning in Otago, and generally over the lower South Island this morning."

The focus stays on the South Island as a second cold front brings another influx of cold air. Parts of Fiordland, Southland, Clutha, and Dunedin could get snow flurries down to 500 to 600 metres overnight into tomorrow morning🏔https://t.co/Yjbq0jfCz1 ^MM pic.twitter.com/Ceu3TA1FwR

— MetService (@MetService) April 26, 2021

Tuesday was also expected to be a chilly start for the South Island, Makgabutlane said.

"We've got another cold front that moves across the South Island today, so another cold morning to be expected, and even some possible snowfalls overnight tonight into tomorrow morning down to about 600 metres."

A road snowfall warning is in place for Porters Pass in Canterbury on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, MetService has issued a strong wind watch for the Canterbury High Country for Monday.

A strong northwest flow speeds ahead of the front, whipping up strong winds for the Canterbury High Country💨💨
A Strong Wind Watch has been issued until 8pm this evening🔸

See all the latest Warnings and Watches via https://t.co/qHyE5zySvx ^MM pic.twitter.com/Re0UdRtQQC

— MetService (@MetService) April 25, 2021