Parts of Nelson had snow in November for the first time since 1981 on Wednesday night.
The Barnicoat Hills behind the city were coated down to about 400 metres. It also snowed in the Brooklyn area near Motueka and on the Takaka Hills.
Nelson weather forecaster John Matheson says the temperature dropped five degrees in two hours as a bitterly cold front moved in at about 8pm.
He says sleet in Nelson in November is a one-in-20-year event.
