Snow falls in New Zealand capital for the first time in 15 years

Snow has fallen in Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, for the first time in 15 years due to a cold front moving in from Antarctica.

According to The Guardian, cited by Report, the cold front reached the country on Tuesday, bringing frost, snowfall, hail, and strong cold winds.

Three locations on the South Island recorded temperatures as low as -9°C on Wednesday morning.

According to the MetService weather agency, temperatures are expected to rise on Wednesday, but will drop sharply again overnight. Some parts of the country are forecast to experience their lowest temperatures of the year on Thursday morning.

New Zealand's national electricity grid operator Transpower said power consumption reached a record high during peak demand hours on Wednesday morning. The company warned of possible electricity shortages on Friday morning.