WeatherWatch.co.nz can confirm that snow has today during Sunday in the centre of Taupo as a wintry blast continues to move north.  Snow fell and settled on the ground however rain has returned to lower altitude areas.

As of 8:15pm it was still just 3 degrees, borderline for snowing again.

Head weather analyst Philip Duncan says it’s very likely that heavier snow will return after dark.

There’s a wild difference in temperatures as well.  As a low develops between Taupo and Auckland wind directions on either side of the low’s centre means it’s mild in the north east and bitterly cold in the south.   As of 8:15 it was 16 degrees in Tauranga with a northerly while Rotorua had 5 and Taupo 3 degrees with a south easterly – an unsual occurance for northern New Zealand and more like Canterbury when a southerly moves through.

Snow has closed the Desert Road where it remains 0 degrees. It’s just 2 degrees further south on the Takapau Plains along the east coast.

In New Plymouth gale force southerlies are hammering the city with gusts to 90km/h and Wellington and Kaikoura have near-gale southerlies.

The cold air has reached Waikato this evening with 7 degrees recorded in Hamilton this hour – exactly the same as much of Southland and Otago.

Meanwhile in Auckland the cold southerly failed to arrive today with a high of 17 today.

Tomorrow is expected to be colder with highs barely making teens for most of New Zealand.

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A rare sight in October – heavy snow fell in Queenstown on Saturday and Taupo on Sunday.  Image / Alison Metherell.