New Zealand: Spring has arrived in New Zealand and sea level snow has hit Christchurch, Dunedin and even Wellington.
Unexpected rain followed the country's warmest and hottest winter on Tuesday, with snowfall stopped on state highways on both the north and south islands.
The biggest low-level snowfall of the year caused road warnings and white backyards for many homes in the South Island's biggest cities.
In New Zealand, September is still a chilly month. According to Metservice meteorologist Dan Corrigan, we experience these Arctic outbursts during the winter.
It is wind from the Antarctic that is bringing a rainfall, chilly air mass that is causing lower elevations like Christchurch and Dunedin to experience snow. It was undoubtedly a cold start to the day.
Dunedin residents have shared photos on social media, and news source Stuff documented a string of vehicles that unexpectedly slammed off the road.
The first snowfall in a few years has affected the towns of North Canterbury as well as the northern suburbs of Christchurch.
Flooding has been reported in the upscale suburbs of Wellington's capital city, while low-lying areas are receiving icy hail.
Further north in the central highlands around Taupo, roads are closed due to snowfall.
After the heat of winter, the effect of the recent cold is unpredictable.
Climate science organization Niwa last week confirmed a record-breaking year, meaning New Zealand has seen three of the warmest winters in the past three years.
Between June and August, the national average temperature was 9.8C, which is 1.4C higher than the 1981–2010 average.
Additionally, the seas off the coast of New Zealand are experiencing "persistent oceanic heatwave conditions".
Weather patterns in South Island ski areas have resulted in bumper snow, starving North Island ski areas.
Operators on Mount Ruapehu are disappointed because this week's weather hasn't brought them the snow they need to start their worst season in more than ten years.
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