Weather: Temperatures in South Island up more than 10C, Ashburton warmest place to be

Most of the south has woken to a much warmer morning with some places recording temperatures more than 10C higher than yesterday.

At 7am, Ashburton was sitting on 15.2C, Christchurch 14.6C, Dunedin 10.5C and Queenstown 8.6C, according to Metservice.

A stark contrast from the 1.6C recorded in Christchurch on Monday morning, 0.2C in Queenstown, 2C in Dunedin and 3.2C in Ashburton 3.2C.

A Southland highway near Lumsden was closed to traffic after strong winds toppled trees.

Waka Kotahi Journey manager Tresca Forrester says workers were out on State Highway 6 clearing the debris

She warns it's going to be a wild 24 hour ahead and drivers should take extra care.

Meanwhile, much of the North Island was colder than the south at 7am on Tuesday.

Napier was sitting on -1C, Hamilton on 3.7C, Rotorua on 4.2C and Wellington on 9.6C.

The warm weather is not expected to last with several warnings in place across the south.

After several days of dry and settled conditions, active weather is returning.

Here's our high-res rain forecast.

We start with a more traditional look, then transition to the bars 📊.

Note how the Southern Alps 🏔️ act as a barrier, reducing rainfall to the east. pic.twitter.com/gw1Rj4hPlg

— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 5, 2021

Waka Kotahi NZTA is warning motorists to expect strong winds on SH7 between Hanmer and Springs Junction (Lewis Pass).

"Please take extra care, especially if you are in a lighter or high-sided vehicle, or riding a motorcycle," a spokesperson said.

MetService has issued a strong wind warning for the Canterbury High Country and the Nelson ranges, west of Motueka.

SH7 HANMER TO SPRINGS JUNCTION (LEWIS PASS) - STRONG WINDS - 7AM
There is currently a strong wind warning in place for Lewis Pass. Please take extra care, especially if you are in a lighter or high-sided vehicle, or riding a motorcycle. ^AL pic.twitter.com/cIumH2KWMJ

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Canterbury & West Coast (@WakaKotahiCWC) July 5, 2021

Severe gales are expected in exposed places, with gusts reaching 130 km/h until 11pm on Tuesday.

A heavy rain warning is in place for Westland, about and south of Otira, the Canterbury headwaters, about and south of Arthur's Pass, the Otago headwaters and Fiordland north of Breaksea Sound.

A severe weather watch for snow is in place from 2am to 8am Wednesday covering inland parts of northern Southland and the southern half of Otago.

Snow was forecast to lower to 100m overnight on Tuesday and could briefly become heavy. Snow amounts could approach warning criteria above 400m during this time, Metservice says.

A snow watch was also in place for Fiordland south of Dusky Sound between 9pm tomorrow and 6am Wednesday.