A mix of wild weather has hit the country today. 

In Auckland, people have battled wind and rain.

The capital has been hit with hail, thunder and lightning after being sunny just an hour ago. 

State Highway 8 between Fairlie and Twizel (including Lake Tekapo and Burkes Pass) and State Highway 80 between Aoraki/Mount Cook and Lake Pūkaki have reopened after heavy snow.

While most of the snow has now cleared, traffic management remains in place on some sections, with single-lane areas and reduced speeds.

Drivers are warned of a significant ice risk tonight as melted snow refreezes in falling temperatures.

State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora, including Haast Pass, remains closed.

A large tree has come down on Wellesley Street East, landing on a bus stop opposite AUT, between Kitchener Street and Princess Street.

Photos by Herald photographer Anna Heath show the fallen tree sprawled across the shelter, with branches and debris covering part of the footpath and road.

Metservice says a ridge of high pressure will start to build over the North Island on Wednesday.

Westerlies will bring showers to western and southern regions, spreading into eastern and northern parts later in the day before clearing in the west.

Most other areas are expected to be mainly fine, marking a shift away from today’s wild weather.

By Thursday, rain will linger in the south and west of the South Island, with showers in the western North Island but sunshine elsewhere.

MetService reports a low to the north will stay offshore, keeping the Far North unsettled before clearing in time for Friday night.

The weekend looks warm and mainly fine, with afternoon temperatures in the high teens and low twenties – a brief taste of summer after a week of snow, storms and thunder, meteorologist Dom Barr said.

MetService meteorologist Dom Barry says tonight will be one of the coldest nights of spring for much of the South Island.

Temperatures are forecast to drop to –1C in Timaru and Wānaka and 0C in Christchurch.

Barry says it will be "a night for the woolly blankets", with single-digit lows across the island.

An unstable south to southwest flow is dominating New Zealand today, bringing snow, showers and thunderstorms to many regions.

MetService says there have already been more than 18,700 lightning strikes this morning as a front swept over the North Island.

In the South Island, snow has fallen to near sea level as far north as Christchurch. Mount Cook Airport reported 20cm, the Crown Range saw 20–30cm and the Milford Road had 10cm.

Snow is expected on the Desert Road, Arthurs Pass and the Lewis Pass through to 4pm.