5 Jun 2012

Snow, rain and gales on the way

6:46 am on 5 June 2012

Bitter southerlies are expected to bring snow to much of the South Island on Tuesday.

Severe weather warnings have been issued for both North Island and South Island regions.

MetService says southerlies will spread over Fiordland, Southland and Otago during the afternoon, reaching Canterbury by the evening, and Marlborough by Wedneday morning.

Snow is expected to fall to low levels in Southland.

Southland Federated Farmers president Russell MacPherson, says he is not overly concerned because most farmers have plenty of stock feed.

He says Southland farmers expect a couple of snow falls a year and it is better to have one now than during spring calving and lambing.

Heavy rain warnings have been issued for eastern Bay of Plenty and northern Gisborne as well as Buller, northwest Nelson.

Much of the central North Island will also be affected by severe gale force northerly winds, including parts of Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Wanganui, Wellington, Wairarapa and Marlborough.