[ad_1]
An unusual summer snow dump has fallen in parts of the South Island today, but does that mean a white Christmas could be on the way?
Snowfall in early December in Oturehua, Central Otago. Source: Supplied
MetService meteorologist Angus Hines says there was decent amounts of snow up to around 200m in Southland and parts of Otago, as well as “nice pouring” higher up in the mountains.
Most of the snow fell overnight or this morning.
“The snow is pretty low for December, really. It’s not often that there is snow this low at this time of year,” Hines told 1 NEWS.
“It’s unusual … It’s certainly not something we’ll see every year.”
Early December snowfall at Five Rivers, Southland. Source: Supplied
The cold front bringing the snow has already moved north and weakened, making it unlikely that there will be snow at the same levels during the week, Hines says.
As for whether the South Island could see a white Christmas?
“I mean, I wouldn’t say there’s no chance,” Hines says.
Snowfall in early December in Oturehua, Central Otago. Source: Supplied
“It is too much for me to speak in extremes like that, but I would say, yes, quite unlikely.”
In the immediate future, there are risks of strong winds in the central parts of the country as the weakened front continues to sweep north.
