Snow showers have fallen in most parts of the Western Bay of Plenty today with reports of snowfalls in central Tauranga, Mount Maunganui, Papamoa and Te Puke, 3-3.45pm.

In an email to newsroom@thesun.co.nz LuvFit managing director Nicola van Huenen said snow fell at Larisa Grove in Papamoa for about 15 minutes, with it settling on the ground for a few minutes before melting.

In Te Puke, Michelle Sefton emailed to say snow fell for about three minutes, just after 3pm, in time for children on their way home from school to enjoy a moment in the snow.

Early afternoon snow sightings

There are reports of snow falling at Taruanga Hospital and places south of there towards Pyes Pa.

This snowfall was at about 1.53pm and coincided with a hail storm in downtown Tauranga.

A snowfall is also reported to have occured on Maleme Street.

In neither instance has the snow settled.

This follows a brief snow shower in central Tauranga, reported on Glasgow Street.

These snowfalls were all reported by an email to newsroom@thesun.co.nz

In the Glasgow Street instance, the emailer said some of her co-workers, courier drivers, had snow flakes fall and rest on the sleeves of their shirts while in Glasgow Street.

There are also reports of snow falling in the Cambridge Road area in Bethlehem.

Snow was spotted on Glasgow Street in central Tauranga. Image: Google Earth.

Forecast

The New Zealand MetService is advising the polar outbreak striking the country is due to continue until midweek.

This cold weather advisory is for most of the country and includes Bay of Plenty, Rotorua, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato and Taupo.

The advisory states there are significant snowfalls due for southern and eastern parts of the South Island as well as southern and central parts of the North Island.

The snowfalls are forecast to ease on Wednesday and are unlikely to continue down to sea level.

The MetService is advising this polar outbreak is expected to cause significant disruption to both the transport network and to the farming community.

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Earlier - roads icy

State Highway 29 over the Kaimai ranges is clear of snow, although from a distance the hills are providing spectacular views from Tauranga and Mount Maunganui.

State Highway 33 and 36, the roads between Rotorua and Tauranga, remain a concern, however, with snowy and icy conditions there.

Sights of snow on the Kaimais from Mount Maunganui: Photo: Barry Gordon.

Earlier police advisories about driving on these highways remains in place.

The cold conditions may be causing issues for motorists, but at Oropi School the snow has provided an exciting morning tea break. Principal Andrew King took the following photos of students embracing the cold:

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Earlier - Bay of Plenty snow sightings

Snowfalls are spreading further afield in the Western Bay of Plenty with reports of snow in Oropi, Pyes Pa and Whakamarama.

These snowfalls are in addition to the first in the region; on the Kaimais and on the state highways leading to Rotorua.

According to an emailer, the snow in Whakamarama is near Whakamarama School and is light and not settling. In her email to newsroom@thesun.co.nz she said it was "very cold" and "very exciting to see it (the snow)".

Reports of snow in Pyes Pa are from Graham and Penny Mackinven. They say the snow is on Taumata Road at 430m.

The snow in Oropi is reported to have fallen steadily for about 10 minutes. It has not settled.

Snow fell with some force in the upper Kaimais this morning. Photo: Linda Timney.

Snow in the upper Kaimais at about 8.15am. Photo: Linda Timney.

Snow falling in Pyes Pa. Photo: Monique Kloppenburg.

A dusting of snow for lemons in Oropi. Photo: Eliz C.

Taking the snow in one's stride. Photo: Eliz C.

Snow falling in Ohauiti before 9am. Photo: Jocelyn McGillivray.

Snow floats in Pyes Pa this morning. Photo: Graham and Penny Mackinven.

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Earlier (9.28am) - Road Advisory:

Police are advising people to avoid any unnecessary travel on State Highway 29, 33 and 36 owing to snow and icy conditions.

There is snow falling on the Kaimai ranges and on State Highway 36 – the Mangorewa Gorge road to Rotorua.

First reports of snow in the Kaimais came in to SunLive at about 9am, with callers to the 0800 SUNLIVE news tip line and via email to newsroom@thesun.co.nz

One emailer wrote the snow came down at about 9am, was slight and not settling, and has now turned to more of a drizzle.

A caller from Ngongotaha said the snow was steady there and an emailer in Pyes Pa said snow was settling at her home.

The degree of snowfall appears sporadic in the region.

Snow in Rotorua today.

Police are advising motorists travelling on either State Highway 29 over the Kaimais or on State Highway 36 and 33 between Rotorua and Tauranga to take care.

If the snow is not settling, ice could still be a problem for motorists and police Acting Senior Sergeant Mark Holmes says the key for drivers is to 'slow down”.

'When I say slow down, it's not from 100km/h to 90km/h – that is, reduce your speed considerably,” says Mark.

Motorists are also advised to have their headlights on, increase following distances and in the case of snow settling, to drive in the tracks left by other vehicles.

Motorists heading further afield and wanting to drive on the Desert Road are advised by the New Zealand MetService that periods of snow are expected today and on Tuesday.

It is predicting 25-40cm of snow could accumulate on the road.

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Rest of New Zealand

The New Zealand MetService is advising heavy snow is forecast to continue falling in much of the country.

It says an extremely cold outbreak has already brought snow to most of the South Island and southern and central parts of the North Island.

It is forecast to continue in the south and east of the South Island and periods of snow are expected over the south of the North Island.

There is very heavy snow expected in inland Canterbury and the south of Marlborough.

Late Tuesday heavy snow is expected to spread north into Hawke's Bay and the south of Gisborne.

Snow adorns homes in Kinloch. Photo: Sue Adams.

Caution need on Kinloch roads. Photo: Sue Adams.

Cold day for a boat ride. Photo: Sue Adams.

MetService Heavy Snow Warnings

Fiordland south of Te Anau, Southland and Otago including Dunedin:

Snow showers are forecast to continue. In the 24 hours from 9am Monday to 9am Tuesday expect a further 15-25cm to accumulate above 200m and 5-10cm to near sea level. About the eastern hills of Otago 20-30cm may accumulate.

Later on Tuesday the snow should ease.

Canterbury:

In the 24 hours from midday Monday to midday Tuesday expect a further 50-70cm to accumulate above 300m and 5-15cm at lower levels.

In the 12 hours from midday till midnight Tuesday another 10-20cm is likely above 200m.

Wellington, Wairarapa and Horowhenua Kapiti Coast:

In the 21 hours from 9am Monday to midnight expect 15-25cm above 400 metres and lesser amounts to lower levels.

In the 12 hours from midday Tuesday to midnight expect a further 15-25cm above 500 metres and 5-15cm from 300-500m. Lesser amounts may penetrate lower.

Taranaki, Wanganui, Taihape and Manawatu:

In the 21 hours from 9am to midnight Monday expect 10-20cm above 300m and lesser amounts to lower levels.

In the 12 hours from midday Tuesday to midnight expect a further 10-20cm above 400m and lesser amounts lower down.

Marlborough south of Seddon:

In the 36 hours from midday Monday to midnight Tuesday expect 40-60cm to accumulate above 300m and 10-20cm at lower levels.

Hawke's Bay and Gisborne south of Whatatutu:

In the six hours from 6pm Tuesday to midnight expect 10-20cm to accumulate above 400m.