Anyone heading to the hinterland is urged to check conditions, with dangerous avalanche warnings covering much of the Southern Alps.
The Avalanche Advisory has issued warnings for Arthur’s Pass, Wānaka, Craigieburn Range, Ōhau, Fiordland and Aspiring National Park at various elevations.
For Arthur’s Pass, the warning is for sub-alpine terrain with more rain and snow tomorrow.
An avalanche large enough to kill, bury or injure a person was observed on Mt Alymer in Aoraki Mt Cook National Park this weekend.
There have been similarly sized avalanches on north and east slopes in Wānaka last week.
There are warnings of elevated conditions for Nelson Lakes and Two Thumbs.
MetService has also issued a severe weather warning for heavy rain over the Westland and heavy snow over the Canterbury High Country.
Snow is forecast to fall up to 400m above the inland parts of the South Island on Monday and Tuesday, affecting much higher roads and upland farms, while the influence of the relatively warm ocean means snow levels a few hundred meters higher. will be close to the coast,” said MetService meteorologist Peter Little.
“Saint Arnaud was coldest on Monday morning with a minimum of -3.7C, while our weather station in Eastern Rangitaiki, near the western top of Napier-Taupō Road, dropped to -2.9C.”
He said snow showers were forecast on Thursday and Friday up to 400 meters above New Zealand’s south, which in turn would affect some of the higher roads from Canterbury south.