Heavy snow was falling in the Canterbury foothills on Sunday afternoon, topping up the base at some ski fields by almost a metre.
Mt Hutt had received 80-centimetres of snow and 50cm had fallen at Porters on Sunday, giving both ski areas bases of about two-metres.
Police say the snow was not causing problems on the roads, although chains were essential on State Highway 73 from Springfield to Arthurs Pass and on the Crown Range.
Flooding affected some areas, with several rural roads near Timaru closed and slips at Greta Valley, Akaroa and Havelock.
MetService said the weather was expected to clear on Monday.