Updated 5:35pm — The cold change is heading northwards. Southland dropped several degrees in a hour this afternoon as the cold front (the first in a few over the next couple of days – each getting colder) moved in.

As of 5pm the cold front was crossing over Dunedin with some suburbs down to 7 degrees.

Clouds were dramatic as they approached.

Our thanks to our Twitter followers for the below videos over the past hour or so…

Wow #dunedin @StormHour https://t.co/DtQ4JvHUCB

— Paul Le Comte (@five15design) May 18, 2017

I think there is some “fun” weather coming….#dunedin @WeatherWatchNZ pic.twitter.com/uR7XImBe0l

— Phil Lemin (@phil_lemin) May 18, 2017

Well that change came quick….. @WeatherWatchNZ pic.twitter.com/rRHm6Xos9Z

— Bruce (@fairleigh_ag) May 18, 2017

Thursday PM’s cold change will see snow on the ranges, down to 300 or 400m in the South Island – however it will be short lived.  

Friday is a colder day but the truly cold Antarctic blast arrives later on Friday and across Saturday – we’ll have further special updates over the next 48 hours.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz