The worst affected areas were inland, mid and north Canterbury and Kaikoura, where heavy snow was expected down to 200m. The North Island was now bearing the brunt of the storm, with waves as high as 11 metres through Cook Strait and powerful winds of 167 km/h. Snow was expected to fall as low as 300m in parts of the North Island on Thursday. The wild weather also cut power to more than 5500 households across the lower half of the North Island. Many of those without power are in isolated rural settlements in the Manawatu Ranges where heavy snow has fallen.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 13, 2017 03:11 UTC