While North Islanders have been enjoying warm days and relatively mild nights the South Island has been creeping closer to winter – and this Friday a cold snap is coming.

WeatherWatch.co.nz is predicting daytime highs on Friday will barely pass single digits for many areas as a south to south east flow brings snow to low levels.

While WeatherWatch doesn’t expect snow in any of the main centres, snow is likely inland on the Canterbury plains and possibly to low levels on Banks Peninsula with a risk of sleet in Christchurch, Timaru and Ashburton during Friday.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says It will be the first wintry snap to cover the South Island this year.

The North Island is expected to remain mostly sheltered from the cold change, apart from Wellington.

On Monday MetService issued a severe weather outlook predicting a possibility of snow across the South Island at the end of this week.  “We have low confidence of snow amounts leading to a warning in Southland later Thursday, and over eastern Otago and much of Canterbury on Friday, but the threat is greater in Canterbury” says MetService.

“Members of the public are urged to keep an eye on this bulletin to establish whether a significant snow fall may occur later this week. If the guidance presents a similar solution tomorrow at this time, then the confidence level may be raised to moderate”.