A taste of winter in North Canterbury

Unseasonable summer snow blanketed Mt Hutt ski field today - as cold southerlies blow over the South Island.

Skifield general manager of operations James Urquhart says it's not unusual to get some snow about once a month.

He says it's not the best start for the maintenance crew having their first day back up the mountain today.

Urquhart says instead of getting their tan on, they would've needed to quickly find their long pants and puffer jackets.