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Warm spring weather��is starting to take hold but we may soon return to the kind of conditions seen in the depths of winter with “potential” snowfall in the North Island.��

One weather model shared to X by Hauraki Gulf Weather projected a “polar streamer” over the country early next week “dropping snow in unusual places”.��

This included 2cm of snow on Northland and snow flurries for South Auckland and Waikato.��

“Still a long way out & downgrades are likely but always interesting to watch the polar vortex spook the best,” it posted.��

Niwa meteorologist and forecaster Ben Noll told the��Herald��it was still early days forecasting where snow may fall and how much places would receive.��

“The weather pattern does look favourable” for snowfall, Noll said, but “we are definitely seeing elevated chances for colder temperatures next week”.��

Noll said the snow would likely fall in higher elevated areas such as the Tararua Ranges.��

When asked if Auckland had any chance of seeing snow, Noll said it would be “highly exceptional”.��

Snow in Auckland��is rare and the last time the city had snow was in 2011.��

That snowfall event was described as a “once-in-a-lifetime” polar blast. Before 2011 the city centre in Auckland hadn’t received snow since the 1930s.��

Noll said we will get a better picture of the “potential snow” as we move into this weekend.��

MetService meteorologist John Law said he is not expecting snow for Northland, Auckland and Waikato.��

He said it will be the South Island that bears the brunt of the cold weather early next week.��

“Next week as the winds turn southwesterly it will be bringing colder air up the country and also a scattering of showers into Northland and Auckland with temperatures around 15C. However, with the wind it will be feeling colder.”��

A heavy snow watch in place for parts of the lower South Island. Photo / George Heard��

There is currently a heavy snow watch in place for parts of the lower South Island (Central Otago, Queenstown Lakes District and southern Canterbury) with the heaviest snow expected above 500 metres.��

The snow is expected during the second half of the day on Thursday and into Friday.��

Some of the higher roads in the South Island will be impacted.��

Law said commuters should keep a lookout for any updates from NZTA Waka Kotahi.��