Hail and thunder has hit Auckland, snow flurries are falling on Christchurch's Port Hills, and sleet has been reported in Dunedin as a freezing blast makes its way up the country.

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A large rain band was moving across the central North Island as the front moved over New Zealand, bringing thunderstorms to the north.

Hail had been falling across Auckland while thunder had been heard, with MetService warning there were more falls to come through into the evening. MetService meteorologist Mark Bowe said the city, along with Taranaki and Tamaranui were likely to be affected by thunderstorms.

"Since this morning Auckland has been experiencing frequent heavy showers along with hail and strong wind gusts."

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"More hail is expected for Auckland but it should ease by evening," Bowe said.

Fire services said so far they have only had one weather-related call out after a tree came down in Manurewa.

Residents across the North Shore (Greenhithe, Browns Bay, Bayview and Beach Haven), have reported thunder and heavy rain.

DAVID WALKER/Stuff As the cold weather front moved up the South Island, a small snow flurry hit Christchurch's Port Hills on Tuesday morning, June 26.

One woman said on Facebook that the "windows on my house were shaking".

The cold snap had earlier caused the closure of the Desert Road and Lewis Pass, among other highways, however all except the Desert Road had reopened by the afternoon.

Snow had been forecast down to 500 metres in the North Island and to 100m in the deep south.

Snow flurries were falling on Christchurch's Port Hills with MetService earlier saying snow could be possible down to 400m in the city. The snow was settling on the hills in Banks Peninsula, prompting a warning that falls were affecting the Summit Rd above 300m there.

Sleet was falling in Dunedin as temperatures hovered in the low single digits. Snow had caused some disruption in the suburb of Brockville, about 300m above sea level.

Snow was also visible on the city's Northern Motorway, but had caused no delays or closures.

TOM LEE/STUFF Stormy rain clouds approach Hamilton CBD on Tuesday afternoon.

Police urged motorists to drive to the conditions. Flights to and from Dunedin were unaffected, while city bus routes were operating as normal.

MetService meteorologist Nick Zacher said the "main event" of the front passing up the country would be the band of heavier showers just ahead and just behind as it moved north.

"That's going to help initiate another round of snow fall across the Desert Road, and even for parts of the Remutaka Range," Zacher said.

NZTA Travelling along Dunedin's Northern Motorway was a chilly trip on Tuesday morning.

Snow showers were expected about the summit of the Remutaka Hill Road on Tuesday afternoon and evening, MetService warned. Between midday and 10pm, 1 to 3 centimetres could accumulate about the summit, with lesser amounts to 400m, the forecaster said.

The day had a freezing start with the temperature dropped to a bone-chilling -10.1 degrees Celsius at Mt Hutt, while Tekapo was the coldest of the towns, getting down to -4.6C.

"The whole country is in a period of really cold southwesterlies," MetService meteorologist Mark Bowe said. "The air is originating from way down south. That's what's dropping the temperatures."

NZTA Snow covers the hills in Dunedin in this NZTA traffic camera image from just after 9.15am on Tuesday.

ROADS RE-OPEN

Apart from the Desert Road in the North Island, all roads that had been closed due to wintry conditions had reopened. The Crown Range road outside of Queenstown opened at 11.30am, however the Queenstown Lakes District Council advised it was reduced to one-way at the point of an abandoned car. Chains were to be fitted where indicated.

Caution was being urged on several other routes in Otago, Canterbury, West Coast affected by snow, ice, or black ice. It was snowing between Burkes Pass and Tekapo (SH8).

In the North Island, MetService warned snow flurries were expected on the summit of the Napier-Taupo Road (SH5) on Tuesday afternoon, but little, if any, snow would settle on the road.

STRONG WINDS

"A strong southwest flow blankets the country dragging up cold air from off the ice," Metservice Meteorologist Mark Bowe said earlier.

NZTA Snow coats the ground on Arthur's Pass shortly after 6am on Tuesday.

"The cooler temperatures and stronger winds will make wind chill a more significant factor this week."

A Niwa spokesman said gusty wind, with speeds exceeding 100kmh, was to hit exposed and coastal areas of Otago on Monday night and the North Island during the day on Tuesday.

The excessive winds would cause an increased risk of power outages and possible wind chill temperatures of near or below zero, he said.

The cold snap was being felt throughout the country – Auckland was forecast to get to have a high of just 12C on Tuesday, and an overnight low of 4C, while southwesterlies could gust to 100kmh in exposed places.

By Wednesday, a ridge of high pressure would build over New Zealand, bringing clear skies and light winds which, with pre-existing snowfall on the ground, will bring down the overnight minimum temperatures for most parts of the country.