© Warren WilliamsJakob Williams (2) plays in the snow on the shores of Lake Wakatipu at Kingston
The Ministry of Education advised of the closures, saying regional teams had been contacting schools and early childhood centres.
"Three of the seven schools were forced to close because their school buses couldn't get through on the roads. We are helping all the impacted schools and early learning services. No reports of damage have been received,'' Katrina Casey, deputy secretary of Sector Enablement and Support, said.
The affected schools are: Tapanui School, Blue Mountain College, Heriot School, Northern Southland College, Lumsden School, Mossburn School and Garston School, while the early learning services are: Riverstones Early Learning Centre in Lumsden and Kidz Way Early Learning Centre in Tapanui.
Heavy snow blanketed the mountains around Wanaka overnight down to 300 metres affecting roads, but it is clearing in most places as the day wears on.
The NZ Transport Agency said teams were "clearing up Central Otago highways after last night's storm but nothing is closed currently".
Road warnings in Otago have been lifted. In Southland, SH94, the Milford Road has been cleared as far as Knobs Flat to Chasm Stream Bridge. The remaining sections were likely to reopen later today.
There were reports of trees down across the Wakatipu, as well as localised flooding.
The Central Otago District Council reported widespread snow in the Manuherikia and Maniototo areas. The council said the snow was thick in places and caution was advised on roads.
© Kathryn WrightUp to 25cm of snow is estimated to have fallen just out of Te Anau.
Ranfurly Four Square Maniototo employees said Oturehua had 36mm of snow, but there was now none in Ranfurly.
In North Otago, Kurow resident Sarah Rowland said there was a dusting of snow on the hills around Omarama, while a staff member at Danseys Pass Holiday Park said there was some snowfall in the area around the pass, but not at lower levels.
The Dansey's Pass road is closed.
Meanwhile, people were forced to flee homes and camping spots, and a boat washed ashore hampering rescue efforts as the wild weather battered the South Island overnight.
Tens of thousands were without power this morning and snow was falling in southern regions.
At Dobson, on the West Coast, a trampoline was picked up and thrown into a powerline, sparking a fire in a transformer.
Roads were closed, blocked by toppled trees and snow drifts, and roofing iron had peeled off homes by storm-force gales.
In the Nelson region freedom campers were forced to flee their Mapua spot when a large storm surge left them stranded in knee-deep water.
The storm caused major power cuts on the West Coast, Nelson, Marlborough and parts of the South Island's east coast early this morning, said Fire Emergency NZ southern communication's Ian Littlejohn.
"Thankfully there were no reports of injuries."
In the Nelson suburbs of Tahunanui and Monaco, firefighters responded to reports of sea surge but were forced to continue on foot when they found Martin St blocked by a catamaran, Mr Littlejohn said.
State Highway 69 between Reefton and Inangahua was closed by fallen trees this morning.
© Peter Vanberke
© Peter Vanberke
Meanwhile, it has been a stormy night in Wellington - but not as bad as initially feared.
Fire and Emergency said the strong wind gusts had brought powerlines down in Wairarapa.
Power was also out to parts of Upper Hutt this morning.
Wellington Electricity said about 144 customers in Kaitoke and Te Marua were affected.
Metservice meteorologist Karl Loots said it had been windy and wet right across the region.
"Wind speeds peaked at around 4am with gusts around 120kmh.
"We also saw a brief period of heavy rain, the highest rainfall was about 26 millimetres through Wainuiomata."
Loots said on Mt Kau Kau the strongest wind gust recorded was 155kmh.
The NZTA issued a warning for motorists driving over the Rimutaka Hill this morning due to strong winds.
Late snow is nothing new. It is only 'late' because the pundits choose to call it so.
It can be like winter in the south island until January. Summer begins in February and ends in March.