North Island Snow: Desert Rd warning when winter conditions hit the road

Snow has fallen on the central plateau of the North Island, as many regions across the country wake up to a postcard but very cold day.

Widespread frosts are sending temperatures plummeting below freezing in snow-covered southern and central New Zealand, while an overnight layer of snow has prompted a warning to drivers using Desert Rd .

This morning, all of MetService’s severe weather alerts and alerts were lifted in New Zealand, with snow and high winds subsiding after two days of a winter bomb cyclone.

But heavy snowfall and ice continue to affect roads to the south, with several roads closed in Otago and Fiordland after two days of a winter blast that saw snow fall to sea level.

On the North Island, motorists using Desert Rd are being warned this morning about dangerous conditions.

While the road remains open, people using the State Highway 1 route were urged to plan ahead, observe following distances, and drive into winter and potentially dangerous conditions.

Yesterday, MetService said the snowy weather was now calming down and the winds were easing.

A cold day was still expected for much of the South Island and central North Island regions, but warm weather was on its way, especially over the weekend, where temperatures are expected to rise in mid- 20 degrees centigrade.

Many parts of the far south, hit by blizzard-like conditions for the past two days, were now waking up to frost.

At 7 a.m., the entire South Island did not register a temperature above 5 ° C.

Christchurch was waking up to -3C cold and Twizel was -3.8C even colder.

Meanwhile, on the North Island, Masterton was at -2 ° C, with all but Auckland and Kaitaia registering temperatures in the single digits.

For those in the Deep South, going should be easier today after temperatures plummeted and snowstorms brought chaos to work and travel plans yesterday.

The snow was heavy at times in Dunedin, even settling on some of the city’s beaches. The slippery roads posed problems for motorists, especially in the hill suburbs.

About 50 cars and trucks stranded on State Highway 1 north of Balclutha in conditions close to a blizzard sparked a massive rescue operation, with police and city hall contractors moving the vehicles as torrential snow rains caused intermittent blackouts and conditions of impassable roads.

The storm has also caused a headache for farmers and gardeners, concerned about heavy spring snowfalls that have taken a terrible toll.

Milton beef and sheep farmer Nigel Woodhead told RNZ that the depth of snow on his farm had doubled overnight Monday.

“For us, it’s a big snowfall at any time of the year, so having it [now] not good.

“It will cause some trouble … Some lambs would have fallen overnight and unless they were in good shelter … dare I say they were [killed] Unfortunately.”

The River Rock Estate Vineyard in Cromwell experienced subzero conditions throughout the day.

Estate owner Graeme McDowell said the temperature dropped to -2.8 ° C at 7 a.m. yesterday, leaving the vines tied like icicles until 4 p.m.

But the snowfall at the end of the season also means an unexpected advantage for skiers, after Coronet Peak announced a special one-morning reopening today.

NZSki’s media relations and communications manager Libby Baron said season pass holders could only head to the fields between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. for a final session.

The Remarkables ski area will close on October 11, and Cardrona Alpine Resort in Wanaka will be the last Otago skifield to close, a week later.