Yes, it's snowing in the middle of summer

It's summer but that hasn't stopped snow from falling across North Island mountain ranges.

Whakapapa ski field is this morning blanketed in a fresh coating of snow and even the Tararua Ranges behind Levin are white after an overnight dusting.

Much of the lower North Island is covered by cloud this morning, but forecasters say the temperatures dived low enough for snow flurries on the tops of the inland mountain range.

Yesterday snow fell on the Southern Alps as a weather bomb unleashed its fury across southern and central New Zealand.

MetService forecaster Tuporo Marsters said the deep low had been followed by a cool southwesterly, which meant conditions were ripe to dump snow on higher parts of the country.

Marsters said it was unusual for snow to fall in the middle of January.

"It's amazing. It's definitely a novelty.

"If you've timed it right to go up the mountain it will be an added bonus."

Marsters said the worst of the weather was clearing the country so the snow would not stick around very long.

- NZ Herald