Snow falls as wintry blast moves north

A storm bringing hail, thunder and lightning has hit the bottom of the North Island after passing over the South Island.

The MetService - at 4.15pm - said a "very squally southerly change" was expected to sweep over Wellington, southern Wairarapa and the Marlborough Sounds about 5pm.

It hit Wellington just after 5pm, bringing hail that blanketed much of the city, as well as an electrical storm.

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Winds were forecast to rise to gale and gusts could reach 110kmh in exposed places before easing during the evening.

MetService warned that wind gusts of this strength could cause some structural damage, including to trees and power lines, and could make driving hazardous.

Meanwhile, the wintry blast earlier brought snow to Dunedin and Christchurch.

Snow began falling in the Christchurch suburb of Cashmere just before 2pm, local Paul Hilliam said. 

On Twitter, Philip Duncan wrote: "Christchurch now 2 degrees and raining...sleet cant be far off.... such a change from akld!"

Other tweeters reported that the temperature had dropped more than 8 degrees in the hour before 2pm.

There were also reports of snow in parts of Dunedin.

MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said the "swings and roundabouts" of spring weather had arrived.

"I think snow will have time to settle on the Port Hills, but the winds will be too strong for it to smother the city, although it does look like it'll be cold enough for snow to sea-level," he said.

- © Fairfax NZ News