Weather: Snow, thunderstorms and strong winds batter South Island

Snow has fallen in Tekapo overnight. Photo / Tekapo Tourism

Snow has fallen in the South Island overnight with heavy rain and strong winds expected throughout the day.

In Tekapo, snow has blanketed the town with temperatures dropping to just 1C. The Lindis Pass is also covered.

Lake Tekapo this morning with thick snow. Photo / Justin Far

Snowfall on the Lindis Pass at about 10.30am on Tuesday. Photo / NZTA

Metservice says snow has lowered to about 400m in the South Island overnight. There have also been thunderstorms in Buller and northern Westland.

Snow expected to 400m in Southland, Clutha, Otago and the Canterbury High Country, and to 500m in the Canterbury Plains.

Severe weather warnings are in place for much of the South Island this morning.

Lauder, Central Otago (375m), looking like a winter wonderland this morning! ❄️ pic.twitter.com/506b9wKz54

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) October 11, 2021

A strong wind warning is in place for the Marlborough Sounds and heavy rain watches are in place for the Tasman ranges west of Motueka as well as the ranges of both Buller and Westland.

Heavy snow watches are in place for the Canterbury High Country south of the Rangitata River, Central Otago and the Queenstown-Lakes District.

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency is advising of weather-related issues on several highways, including snow on State Highway 85 Omakau-Kyeburn, SH8 (Lindis Pass) and SH94 (Milford Road).

❄ Winter, is that you? ❄

Snow has been falling down to around 400 metres in many parts of the South Island overnight and this morning.

If you're in the snow, send us your observations 📷 (and measure the depth if you can! 📏)

Road Snowfall Warnings at https://t.co/aIkbAHKg1S pic.twitter.com/FRL8x3imMC

— MetService (@MetService) October 11, 2021

Heavy rain has caused flooding on the West Coast and State Highway 6 has been closed by a slip near Punakaiki.

MetService shift meteorologist Larissa Marintchenko said it was going to be wet and cold for most of New Zealand today and tomorrow.

Temperatures have dropped with the North Island hovering around 16-17C while the South Island sits at around 12-15C before both areas rise several degrees at the weekend.

"It's pretty cold pretty much through this week until the weekend and then on the weekend it will start to warm up again all over the country."

The severe weather is expected to clear from Thursday this week.