By Jeff Hampton
Snow to sea level is forecast for the lower South Island on Tuesday morning, and farmers are being urged to move their stock to shelter.
Southerners have already had a taste of the return to winter, with up to half-a-metre of snow falling in Central Otago overnight.
Spring came to Central Otago early, but now it seems winter's back.
Skiers have been doing a snow starve, and for some the dump came too late. Coronet Peak has been struggling for snow cover, its 20cm overnight was a welcome boost.
There is more forecast too. Monday night and Tuesday morning, a strong southerly will hit the lower South Island. MetService is forecasting snow to near sea level by dawn on Tuesday.
“The next few days are looking really favourable for us,” says Coronet Peak manager Hamish McCrostie.
“[There is] some fantastic old weather coming – some southwester fronts embedded in that, snow to low levels. So that's fantastic for us. I just pity the farmers lambing at the moment so we do feel for them.”
The front will hit Canterbury and Marlborough later in the day, bringing some snow to Canterbury above 200m and above 400m in Marlborough.
MetService says not to expect much snow below 500m, but there'll be strong wind-chill and driving could be difficult.
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