Snow falls in Rotorua

Snow is falling in several parts of Rotorua.

Flurries of snow were seen clearly falling on Hinemoa St and the surrounding areas of the CBD at about 12.45pm, however, it was not heavy enough to settle on the ground.

People commenting on the Rotorua Daily Post Facebook page have said they are also seeing snow in Tihi-O-Tonga, on the top of Mount Ngongotaha, Lynmore and Koutu.

It is also snowing heavily at Reg Stag Waipa State Mill Rd.

This follows one of the largest snow falls seen this morning in Mamaku in nearly a decade.

According to the MetService website, it is 2.9C, with humidity at 90 per cent.

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Ngapouri Rd, Waiotapu

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Mamaku

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Hannah Bennett, Mamaku

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Waikite Valley

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Waikite Valley

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Ryker Hunt, 4, Mamaku.

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Eli Pahl, 6, at Mamaku primary school.

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Playtopia daycare.

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South Rd in Mamaku

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Ngakuru.

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North of Taupo.

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Deep Creek Rd, Reporoa

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Tumunui

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Rerewhakaaitu

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Oturoa Rd.

MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said snow fall in Rotorua was surprising but "a good indication locals won't have to go far to find snow".

"This kind of sleety snow won't last long as this rain front moves up but it's pretty cool to have it down at those CBD levels."

Posted by Rotorua Daily Post on Wednesday, 12 July 2017

Kathy Warbrick was surprised to find it snowing in the middle of Rotorua when she came out of her beauty appointment.

"Nature is playing havoc when it snows in Rotorua," she said.

Ms Warbrick said she could remember it snowing once before in Rotorua but that was a few years ago.

"It's definitely exciting, but it also shows that our weather patterns are changing," she said.

Waikite Valley.

"You know it's getting cold when stuff like this happens."

A Whakarewarewa resident, Ms Warbrick said they'd been advising tourists to take caution driving south.

"If it really snows in central then we should all head out and buy a lotto ticket, because there's just as much chance in that."

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Niall Rowlinson has lived in Rotorua most of his life, and says this hasn't happened since he was very young.

"It's amazing," he said.

"I've never seen it like this ever."

Mr Rowlinson had just driven back from a work trip and the front of his ute was covered in snow and ice.

"It's snowing all the way from Kaingaroa to Hemo Gorge," he said.

"I was just following the car in front through their tracks in the snow.​"