Power outages and downed trees are possible as significant amounts of snow is dropped from Northern Canterbury to central North Island.
The MetService is calling the latest weather system a 'big winter storm”, which is expected to sweep across the country until Friday.
Snow has fallen to sea level in the lower South Island and a number of roads are closed.
Heavy rain and southerly gales are also forecast for Wellington today and a deep low over the North Island could bring severe gales and a possibility of snow to 600m in Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay and east of Taupo.
Snow is expected at times on the Desert Road until Thursday night, with 30 to 40cm likely to accumulate about higher parts of the road.
The MetService says a low east of Wairarapa is expected to deepen during today and tomorrow, bringing a period of heavy rain, snow and severe southerly gales to central New Zealand with further snow showers to southern New Zealand.
'This is a significant weather event and the combination of heavy rain, snow and strong winds is expected to cause widespread disruption to transport and possibly power supplies.
'The heaviest snow is expected about mid and north Canterbury, the Kaikoura District and the central North Island high country including the ranges of Hawke's Bay and Manawatu and warnings are now in force for these areas.”
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