MetService has included the Wanganui region in a severe weather warning it has issued for today.
It is part of a general warning that covers much of the country, from Auckland to Southland, with strong to gale-force southwesterly winds forecast.
As well the weather watchers have warned of snow across the North Island high country, including the Waimarino and Taihape.
A front pushed cold southwesterlies across the country yesterday but it is a second trough arriving today that has MetService worried.
A spokesperson said the winds will reach severe gale-force this afternoon and evening, and bring much colder temperatures with them. Snowfalls are expected down to 800 metres.