Sleet or light snow showers are possible about higher parts of State Highway 1, Desert Road this morning the MetService says.

A complex low pressure system lies over the north of the North Island and is bringing rain and southeast gales over the central and lower North Island and also the upper South Island and a warning for severe gales is in force for the Eastern Bay of Plenty the report says.

The Service says sleet or light snow showers are possible from this morning through to this afternoon, although little if any snow is likely to settle on the road.