MetService is forecasting snow down to 200 metres, wintry rain and thunderstorms for the lower South Island tonight.
Snow on the Crown Range. Photo: Twitter / @QueenstownLakes
A heavy snow watch will be in force from 6pm.
Meterologist Tui McInnes said a large trough sitting around the south of New Zealand was injecting cold air over the country while moving to the north-east.
"South-westerly, so it coming from quite far south, which means of course that it's really really cold, and it's quite windy.
"And then embedded in this flow are a number of fronts and of course they're also bringing wet to us.
"Down south where it's a bit colder we're getting quite a bit of snow which we are already starting to see in a number of places.
Mr McInnes says regions along the west coast could face thunderstorms with hail and strong wind gusts.
It came after snow closed roads in the South Island this morning, with towing vehicles are not being allowed on other routes because of ice.
