By 3 News online staff
A bitterly cold polar blast is going to hit the South Island tonight with snow forecast down to low levels - and even sea level in Southland.
In Queenstown, the warning signs have been growing all day.
MetService issued a special weather advisory this morning, saying a strong southerly airflow is forecast to spread onto the South Island tonight and tomorrow morning.
“Very cold, showery conditions should develop in Fiordland, Southland and Otago during the night and the snow level is expected to lower to near sea-level by dawn on Tuesday,” it says.
Sleety showers are forecast to spread into Canterbury and Marlborough on Tuesday afternoon.
Above 500m in Fiordland, Southland and Otago, snow accumulations could reach 10 to 20cm, MetService says.
Snow is expected to clear in Otago by Tuesday evening and elsewhere overnight Tuesday or on Wednesday morning, but frosts are likely on Wednesday and Thursday.
Cold, windy conditions are expected to reach the lower North Island from late tomorrow afternoon, with snow falling above 400m in the Tararua and Ruahine ranges, and above 500m in the Central Plateau.
3 News