MetService has issued a severe weather warning this morning.

Heavy rain is expected for parts of the North Island, with possible severe gales for southern and central New Zealand and possible heavy snow for the lower South Island.

'An active front over the North Island slowly moves northeast today delivering heavy rain to western and central areas,” says a MetService spokesperson.

'An active cold front preceded by gale northwesterlies and followed by cold gale south to southwest winds is forecast to move up the South Island overnight tonight and the North Island on Monday, and these may approach severe gale at times.

'Additionally, snow is forecast to lower to about 100 metres across the lower South Island with snow accumulations possibly reaching warning criteria above 200 metres in parts of Southland and Fiordland.”

Gale to severe gale south to southwest winds are expected to bring bitterly cold conditions across much of the South Island causing stress to livestock, and snow is also forecast to
affect many South Island roads and passes making driving conditions hazardous.

'Finally, large south to southwest waves are expected to spread northwards over coastal areas of New Zealand on Monday and Tuesday.”