Snow in New Zealand is a reminder that winter is on the way for the northern hemisphere

Heavy late winter snow fell across parts of New Zealand in recent days, and is a reminder that winter is not too far away for locations in the northern hemisphere.

This wintry scene in New Zealand will leave many wondering when the first snow will fall in their area.

While beautiful to look at and exciting for skiers hoping to enjoy the slopes a few more times this season, the snow also caused school and road closures as well as power outages and travel disruptions.

While the southern hemisphere is nearing the end of its winter and snowfall will become more and more rare, colder air is already building in Canada and Siberia, setting the stage for the cooler weather that will invade North America, Europe and Asia during the autumn and winter months.

If you are wondering when you can expect to see some of the white stuff where you live, here is an image showing the average date of the first accumulating snowfall each year in the United States.