A bitterly cold southerly outbreak is expected to bring snow to sea level in much of Otago and Southland over the next 24 hours.

Weather commentator Richard Green is warning wind and snow on southern peninsulas could cause blizzard like conditions with the heaviest falls expected to occur tonight, tomorrow morning and tomorrow afternoon.

"Very cold temperatures, a strong, blustery southwester developing this afternoon and even though we're looking at rain showers initially that will gradually turn to sleet and then snow.

"We're likely to see snow to sea level covering much of Otago and Southland throughout this afternoon, tonight, tomorrow morning and even in to tomorrow afternoon."

Green is warning it could make travelling difficult with the amount of snow that's forecast to fall.

"If you are towing vehicles in amongst snow and strong winds it could be blizzard like conditions at times."

Green adds central Dunedin could see about 10 centimetres of snow tomorrow morning, or afternoon.