Auckland Sees Snow for 1st Time in 80 Years

Downtown Auckland is seeing snow for the first time in 80 years today, as a "once in a lifetime" blast of winter weather hits New Zealand. "If Auckland is getting reports of snow flurries now at the warmest point of the day that makes you wonder about what might be coming tonight," says one forecaster, adding that similar conditions have not been seen in the area since the 1930s. Snow was also reported in Wellington in levels not seen since the 1970s, and in Wanganui for the first time since 1974, the New Zealand Herald reports. (More winter weather stories.)