UPDATED 4:28pm — Some decent snow falls are possible across our ski fields over the next 12 to 24 hours but WeatherWatch.co.nz forecasters say snow amounts won’t be very much at lower levels.

The wintry snap is continuing to bite at the deep south with inland Canterbury experiencing a few thunderstorms and heavy downpours in the past hour according to WeatherWatch.co.nz reader Helen Leggatt.

“Whoaaaa big thunderstorm here now (inland Cant nr Sheffield) and a very shakey dog! Thunder and lightning and hail continuing” she wrote a short time ago on our interactive Facebook page.

Other readers on our Facebook page have reported light snow around inland parts of Otago and northern Southland and snow to low levels around the Catlins. 

Earlier today WeatherWatch.co.nz reader “Amanda” told us “Had a snow shower at 8.30 this morning in Wakari a Dunedin hill suburb – 200-250m above sea level. Big flakes”.  Amanda said snow was settling on Flagstaff and Mt Cargill to about 350m this morning.

As reported at the start of the week by WeatherWatch.co.nz, snow was most likely to sea level, or low levels, around Southland and Otago.

Snow showers are most likely overnight tonight and in the early hours of Friday morning for South Islanders.

However WeatherWatch.co.nz says snow to sea level isn’t expected to be very much, with sleet and rain showers being more common, especially north of Dunedin. 

Despite not a lot of snow being forecast, WeatherWatch.co.nz says motorists should drive with extreme care and carry chains in case of localised heavy falls on some alpine highways.

The angle of the wind is still a south westerly, which tends to be a much drier – and slightly warmer – wind direction for Canterbury, meaning snow is less likely to sea level in this region.  Latest data suggests precipitation will be fairly low over Canterbury tonight and on Friday.

In fact, WeatherWatch.co.nz says apart from a few showers overnight and first thing on Friday conditions should be mostly dry with clear skies expected by afternoon.  Sleet is possible in Christchurch in the early hours of Friday morning but most of the precipitation is expected to fall as rain showers, with plenty of long dry spells.  Hail is also possible this afternoon and overnight.

Sleet and hail showers are predicted for both Invercargill, Dunedin and Queenstown tonight with snow showers possibly affecting Queenstown and to a lesser extent, Invercargill.

North Island
Some snow showers are predicted by WeatherWatch.co.nz for the Desert Road tonight and tomorrow, but snow may not be heavy enough to close the road.  Motorists should check with roading authorities before heading out.

Snow flurries may also affect the top of the Rimutakas tonight too.

However snow isn’t predicted to fall in any North Island centres apart from Ohakune and Waiouru where the risk was “moderate” but heavy snow was not forecast.

WeatherWatch.co.nz said at the start of this week that the cold snap would be “short and sharp”.  This afternoon the weather news authority says it now may not even be as sharp as first thought.

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What are weather conditions like where you are today?  Have you had hail, snow or sleet?  Post a comment below! (and don’t forget to say where you’re from!)