Heavy rain and snow have hit the South Island in the past 24 hours with reports of flooding and cars having to be towed.
Police said SH8 between Twizel and Fairlie and SH80 between Aoraki Mt Cook and Ben Ohau were both closed. Photo: 123rf
Metservice said some areas of Nelson and the West Coast had recorded just over 300 millimetres of rain.
Its meteorologist Peter Little said that was about a year's worth for those regions.
Up to 30 cars stranded by snow in South Canterbury had to be towed out.
Mr Little says the worst had passed for most of the South and it was the North Island's turn.
Earlier today, police urged people to stay off the roads.
They said State Highway 8 between Twizel and Fairlie and SH80 between Aoraki Mt Cook and Ben Ohau had been closed due to snow.
Civil Defence in Ōkārito, near the Franz Josef Glacier, was dealing with flooding at the lagoon.
In Nelson, there was flooding on Whakatu Drive but the road was clear.
At Golden Downs, a tree was down and blocking both lanes of Kerrs Hill Road.
Police were concerned rivers and streams might rise rapidly.
Metservice expected the heavy rain to ease for Nelson and the West Coast this evening.
In the North Island, it said it expected the worst rain to hit Mt Taranaki and Bay of Plenty, where 100-130mm could accumulate in 12-15 hours.