Winter has truly arrived in the South Island, with road crews working through the night to clear heavy snow in Otago and Canterbury.
MetService meterologist Sylvia Martino said this morning Dunedin Airport and Tekapō took out the chilliest spots, at -5°C, overnight, while Christchurch dropped to -1°C.
The South Island woke to multiple highway closures after heavy snow fell in many areas from Friday night, the NZ Transport Agency/Waka Kotahi advised, but roads have been reopening since this morning.
"The polar blast came through yesterday as expected, leaving in its wake up to a metre of snow the crews have been working through the night to clear."
NZTA decided to shut State Highway 87 between Mosgiel and Kyeburn at 5.20pm on Friday, cutting off Middlemarch.
The road has now reopened, but motorists are encouraged to avoid travel if they can while the risk from snow and ice remains, a spokesman said on Saturday afternoon.
SH85 (the Pigroot) between Palmerston and Alexandra closed 8.15pm yesterday, but was opened by early afternoon. SH85 between Alexandra and Kyeburn has also reopened.
However, the road will now close again from 6pm tonight until tomorrow morning due to the ongoing risk, the spokesman said.
Five cars and a couple of heavier vehicles had to be left on the road at Sandy’s Cutting overnight due to snow.
Their occupants were relocated to Tekapō last night by Fire and Emergency NZ and specialist vehicles were being used today to move the vehicles, he said.
MetService meteorologist Samkelo Magwala said the worst of the snow would continue until later on Saturday, as would the risks associated with this weather.
"The main driver of the snow is a low east of the South Island and it’s propagating the cold suddenly into the region.
"As a result, we have this destructive snow which is wet but will remain for quite some time. This is a very good indication that the winter is truly with us."
Canterbury
In Canterbury, a slip at Gorge Stream on SH7 was being cleared so that the highway from Hanmer Springs to Springs Junction could be reopened later on Saturday, NZTA said.
SH73 from Otira to Springfield (Arthur’s Pass and Porters Pass) is open again but chains are essential.
SH80 between Lake Pukaki and Aoraki/ Mount Cook was also closed due to snow on Friday night, but has now reopened, as has SH79 from Fairlie to Gudex Road.
However, SH80 will now close again from 6pm tonight until tomorrow morning, a spokesman for NZTA said.
"The decision to close [SH8 and SH80] again is based on more snow flurries expected overnight, and this combined with snow melt and freezing temperatures will likely mean extremely icy conditions.
"It also means crews can continue working on the roads, breaking up ice and spreading grit. Decisions will be made in the morning about when to reopen," the spokesman said.
Snow showers were expected to affect Porters Pass until early on Sunday morning. Warnings for Arthur's Pass and the Haast Pass (SH6) have been lifted.
Crown Range Rd reopens
The Crown Range Road, linking Queenstown and Wānaka, was closed on Friday night due to heavy snow, but was set to reopen at 10.30am. However, chains are essential.
A police spokesman said they had received calls about "a small handful" of vehicles had been stranded on the alpine pass yesterday, but managed to get out before the road was shut.
A spokesman for the Queenstown Lakes District Council said conditions yesterday and cold overnight temperatures led to an extremely slippery road surface and crews were applying grit to the road on Saturday morning.
"The Crown Range Road will open at 10.30am, but chains will need to be fitted. Please follow instructions at the Eastbourne Gates and Chain Bay 1."
MetService said at 10am that snow showers were no longer expected on the road.
Meanwhile, temperatures around the Queenstown Lakes district were sitting around 3°C or below this morning and could potentially lead to ice with the roads being wet.
"Grit has been applied on the Devil Staircase and Arrow Junction (SH6), as well as the usual shaded areas and bridge decks."
Central Otago
In Central Otago, snow of up to 30cm has been reported in Maniototo and snow was also affecting Upper Manuherekia where Oturehua, Becks, St Bathans, Wedderburn, a spokeswoman for the Central Otago District Council advised.
By late morning, teams were still working to clear roads but the main centres and key routes were now clear.
"Please reduce your speeds and drive to the conditions."
There were normal winter driving conditions for Omakau, Poolburn, Roxburgh, Cromwell and Alexandra. However, some roads were wet from rain overnight and patches of snow on the high-country roads.
Danseys Pass Road is closed (from the gates past the Danseys Pass Hotel) due to snow.
"There are a lot of roads affected by this weather system - before you start your journey, please check."
A snowfall warning has been lifted for the Lindis Pass (SH8).
South Otago
Contractors assessed roads in the Clutha District on Saturday morning after some areas were affected by snow overnight, a spokeswoman for the Clutha District Council said.
"While there wasn't an abundance of snow like in other regions we are experiencing icy roads, so we are urging road users to take care on the roads today."
Contractors inspected up to the Waipori/Mitchells Flat intersection and down the main arterials in West Otago.
Mt Stuart has 20mm of snow at the windfarm.
At Waipori/Mitchells Flat intersection there is approximately 2.5cm of snow.
There was a hoar frost in Lawrence this morning.
The main roads around West Otago are clear, this includes roads in Moa Flat and Dunrobin.
There is approximately 5cm of snow at the top of Aitchison Runs Rd - the highest point of the Clutha District network.
All roads are passable in two-wheel drive, but caution advised as it is still extremely cold out there and there is likely to be ice present.
Southland
The Milford Road (SH94) in Southland is open, with fine and frosty conditions. There's ice and grit especially around bridges and road users were advised to drive with care.
NZTA also warned of snow on SH6 between Kingston and Lumsden.
Police urged drivers to be more vigilant after reports in Southland of black-ice related crashes between Invercargill and Bluff. There were no injuries in relation to those.
Ferries cancelled
Cook Strait ferries were being cancelled this weekend because of forecast 6m swells.
Interislander had cancelled all passenger sailings for today. Bluebridge had also cancelled all today’s sailings and one early tomorrow.
Freezing start to Friday
It was a freezing start to the day in much of the South on Friday.
At 7am, the MetService website showed Mosgiel as officially the coldest centre in the country, on -5°C. Alexandra was -2.5°C, and Queenstown was -1°C.
Dunedin was 3°C, only 1°C lower than the warmest places in the South Island - Nelson and Westport which were 4°C.
At 10.45am, Mosgiel was still shivering on -1.5°C.
Non-official weather station data on the MetService site showed -7°C at Tekapo at dawn, and both the Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes District Councils said temperatures of -6°C had been recorded.
The freezing conditions prompted police in the South to issue a warning of black ice on southern roads and to urge motorists to take "extreme care".
They said they had already attended one black-ice related crash yesterday morning and were aware of another.
"Thankfully, no-one has been injured but we want to ensure everyone gets to their destination safely."
- By ODT staff and RNZ
