UPDATED 1:30pm — WeatherWatch.co.nz said sea level snow was likely in Fiordland and South Westland today, but right now parts of Hokitika and Greymouth have isolated snow flurries too.

The polar blast is moving up the South Island and will track over the North Island later today, dropping temperatures nationwide as we head into Monday.

Snow is falling on some parts of State Highway 6 between Hokitika and Greymouth, motorists are advised to take extreme care in snow and hail showers/ice. “This is an incredibly rare low level West Coast snow event” says WeatherWatch.co.nz head forecaster Philip Duncan.

South Island radio broadcaster Andy Thompson says snow was falling to “sea level” where he was via a tweet this afternoon. We recently spoke to Mr Thompson who said the snow was “decent anf fluffy and settling” including on parts of the State Highway.

WeatherWatch.co.nz said across last week that sea level snow was likely around the south western corner of the South Island including possibly Southland too. But Greymouth and Hokitika are both further north than forecast but clearly possible in some areas today, most likely enhanced by the western mountains. Eastern parts of NZ, however, are looking much drier.

Snow has also fallen near Invercargill, like in Mataura which is around 40 metres above sea level.

Hail showers and heavy squally downpours are affecting the western North Island and will likely increase as we head through Sunday as the colder air advances northwards to cover all of Aotearoa by midnight tonight.

– Andy Thompson

– DairyCowQueen – Twitter

More #snomo @TheCountry @TheMusterShow @WeatherWatchNZ @NZMECareers @nzherald @rowie_nz @GrantMcCallum4 @greymouth_nz @GreymouthStar @hokitika_nz pic.twitter.com/QRXhXK3lzt

— Andrew Thompson (@Pandasport) August 4, 2019

Chilly pic.twitter.com/LX8iqbNte7

— Andrew Thompson (@Pandasport) August 4, 2019

#snowing on The West Coast at Sea level #kumara @TheMusterShow @TheCountry @NZMECareers @nzherald @WeatherWatchNZ @GrantMcCallum4 pic.twitter.com/MN7Vcv7af5

— Andrew Thompson (@Pandasport) August 3, 2019

Mataura is 40m above sea level pic.twitter.com/RhjTDWCuZT

— Donald Martin (@DonaldGrassCo) August 3, 2019

 – WeatherWatch.co.nz