Alpine blast

KENT BLECHYNDEN/ Dominion Post

BLEAK STREET: Snow flurries hadn't been seen in central Wellington's Willis St for 14 years.

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It was extra cold this weekend and winter officially starts today.

An antarctic blast of snow, hail and sleet ushered in the first day of winter, bringing snow to sea levels and the first flurries in downtown Wellington for 14 years.

Icy southerly gales packing gusts of up to 120kmh buffeted the Capital yesterday, accompanied by some snow, heavy hail and showers.

Snow fell to sea level along Wellington's south coast and from Southland to Kaikoura, and blanketed high-country passes, including the Rimutaka Hill Road summit and Desert Road.

MetService forecaster Chris Noble said it was rare to have snow to such low levels in May a day before the official start of winter.

Forecaster Oliver Druce said it was also unusual for snow to fall in Wellington's CBD flurries were last recorded there in 1995 and snow last settled in the inner city in 1976.

Sweeping slowly up the country, the southerly blast dumped snow in gutters and on hilltops around Karori, Khandallah, Johnsonville and Whitby. Falls were also reported on the Kapiti Coast.

Chilly daytime temperatures plummeted from early morning to three to nine degrees throughout the region, with just one degree recorded at midday at the top of the Rimutaka Hill and in Waiouru.

The central North Island and Hawke's Bay were due to receive the full force of the blast overnight.

Snow falls on Wellington hills came as an unexpected but pleasant surprise for visiting Auckland tramper Kevin Mansell, who along with his friend from Karori, ditched a planned tramping trip in the Tararua Ranges for a walk much closer to home up Wright's Hill.

"We normally have to tramp from a hut in the ranges to find snow rather than take a 10-minute walk up the road. It's fantastic," Mr Mansell said.

After a quick tramp to the hill top battling head-on into a fierce snow-laden gale, they decided to head indoors to a pub to warm up.

Chris Lawrence of Karori took his border collie Quito for a quick jaunt. "It is freezing but she loves the snow she runs amok and tries to chase it," Mr Lawrence said as he headed home to a roaring fire and glass of wine.

Police warned motorists that 10 to 15 centimetres of snow was expected on the Rimutaka Hill Road and 10 to 20cm on the Desert Road overnight..

In the South Island, 5 to 10cm was recorded in Eastern Otago and Northern Canterbury yesterday.

Conditions were expected to ease across the country today, but remain cold.