Snow may affect travel and could have an impact on rural communities and farmers. Photo: Supplied / Tanja Clauberg
It was nearly nearly the wettest June day on record for Taupō - one of several regions hit by heavy downpours in the last 24 hours.
MetService says Taupō was just 0.2mm shy of the June record, with 61.2mm of rain falling in the 24 hours to 9am Thursday.
The band of heavy rain that lashed the country overnight has now shifted east away from New Zealand, but MetService warns more wintry weather is on the way.
Meanwhile, flooding has closed Tāneatua Road, in the Bay of Plenty on Friday afternoon, with river levels still rising in the area.
Police said for people wanting to get to Tāneatua township, access was via State HIghway 2, White Pine Bush Road.
Road users needing to get to Ōpōtiki need to go via Ōhope.
On SH2 Waioweka Gorge, two slips closing the road are hoped to be cleared by 5pm on Friday.
Between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning several areas experienced brief but intense periods of rain.
Scattered showers are expected today - and even sunny spells for some. However, the West Coast of the South Island remains unsettled, with rain and a chance of thunderstorms forecast for later today.
Snow making machines going full throttle at Coronet Peak on Thursday afternoon, they've got the freezing temperatures they need to crank them up. Photo: Supplied
Snow has fallen in parts of inland Canterbury with more forecast on Friday and Saturday for Southland, Otago, Canterbury and Marlborough.
The heaviest falls are expected above 400 metres but flurries are possible down to 200 metres, including in Queenstown.
MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said several heavy snow warnings, watches and road snowfall warnings were in place.
"The snow may affect travel and could have an impact on rural communities and farmers.
"It's a good idea to prepare ahead of time and allow extra time if you have to head out on the roads."
Elsewhere, the weekend promised a mix of showers and drier spells, and windy conditions in Westland where there was a Watch for Strong Winds in place.
"Firewood, warm drinks, and plenty of extra layers will go a long way," Makgabutlane said.
Temperatures across the South Island were forecast to peak in the low to mid-single digits during the day, with overnight lows well below freezing.
Wānaka should brace for a day-time high of just 2C and a chilly low of -6C.
The North Island will be feeling the cold too, with a sharp drop in temperatures over the next couple of days.
Napier was set to experience a balmy warm 22C today but would struggle to 13C on Friday.
Waiouru was only expected to reach 4C this weekend, with highs of 10C in Palmerston North and 13C in Auckland.
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