A wet, windy and snowy week is forecast for much of the South Island this week.
Photo: SUPPLIED
Between eight to 12 centimetres of snow is expected to fall around the Southland region tonight and tomorrow, and heavy rain and winds up, to 120 kilometres per hour around Canterbury, are also expected.
New road snow warnings have been issued for Lewis Pass, Arthurs Pass, Lindis Pass, the Crown Range Road and the Milford Road, with more possible in the coming week.
Fiordland, Westland south of Otirā and the headwaters of Canterbury and Otago lakes and rivers are expected to experience the heaviest rain.
Thunderstorm risk map for today, High risk of lightning for the west of the South Island from late morning. Read about it here: https://t.co/BZWb7ZPiRd ^AH pic.twitter.com/0Ik78L76q1
— MetService (@MetService) May 19, 2018
Thunderstorms are also expected for these regions.
MetService meteorologist Angus Hines said there would only be a small respite from the weather tomorrow, with more bad weather arriving on Tuesday.
