Snow showers, some heavy, are affecting parts of Southland and Otago as a polar outbreak finally gets underway says WeatherWatch.co.nz.

Parts of Dunedin and Queenstown have received snow with most reports of heavy snow coming from around Dunedin.

Invercargill has had a few flurries but so far our southern most city has avoided the bulk of the snow.

Hail showers are popping up in many places right across the country – as far north as Auckland.

Meanwhile forecasters are pretty much in agreement that more widespread snow and much colder weather will move in later on Monday and across Tuesday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says snow will fall as north as Northland down to just a few hundred metres – with heavier snow predicted in the north than the July snow storm.

Christchurch is likely to see a flurries today but heavier and more widespread snow is likely later on Monday and into Tuesday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the weather on Tuesday may be even colder than the July storm which was, at the time, the coldest day of 2011. 

Wellington may receive snow to sea level tonight and again on Tuesday.

The snow showers are currently moving into Canterbury with Banks Peninsula most exposed.  The snow showers should move over Christchurch over the next few hours.

– WeatherWatch.co.nz

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