Thunderstorms for Banks Peninsula snow for alpine passes

A cold snap has made itself present across parts of Canterbury tonight with Metservice issuing a number of warnings.

It has forecast showers, with a risk of thunderstorms and hail about Banks Peninsula with strong southwesterlies, gale gusting 90 km/h in exposed places overnight.

There are also road snowfall warnings in place overnight for the Lewis Pass, with snow forecast above 700 metres, with up to 1 cm possibly settling on the road near the summit.

Snow flurries are possible down to 700 metres, but little if any snow is expected to settle on the road near Arthur's Pass (SH73).

Snow is expected to continue tonight for Porters Pass (SH73) through to Wednesday morning with 2 to 4 cm of snow accumulating on the road above 800 metres, with lesser amounts at lower levels.