Severe winds causes mayhem and now a severe snow storm is on the way for parts of New Zealand

Southland Civil Defence is urging people not to travel in the region tonight because of an incoming snowstorm.

Snow is expected to be heaviest across eastern Southland, and Emergency Management Southland manager Neil Cruickshank says unless travel is urgent people should leave it until conditions have passed.

MetService is warning more strong winds may hit the South Island. Earlier today trees came down across roads and buildings were damaged around the Invercargill area.

Wind gusts were recorded at 116kmh at Invercargill Airport, with meteorologists predicting further strong winds for inland parts of Canterbury, and Wairarapa with severe weather warnings in force.

Winds are also likely to increase for Wellington and parts of the Nelson region ahead of a front crossing New Zealand.

The bulk of forecasted snow is for the far south of the country, with heavier amounts above 300 metres.

However, some snow showers are still forecast to run into the West Coast of the South Island and skirt around the eastern coast, meaning spots like Banks Peninsula and the Port Hills could also see some of the white stuff.

Road snowfall warnings are in place for the Milford Road as well as the Lewis Pass, Lindis Pass and Arthur’s Pass.

Emergency services have already been dealing with weather related calls in Southland with hundreds of homes losing power.

A Southland resident had an early wake up call this morning when gale force winds brought down power lines just metres from her house.

A gust of wind at 5.30am toppled a line of seventeen poles at Makarewa, north of Invercargill.

One pole crashed down within 10m of Tracy Kennedy’s house.

“The wind picked up like a freight train and suddenly I was woken by a flash of lightning”, she told ONE News.

“Then I went outside and saw the lines were down … It was pretty scary.”

Ms Kennedy said would likely be days before power was restored to her house, but the neighbours already had it back on.