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Snow is forecast to fall to 500 meters in parts of the South Island on Thursday and could be low in the southern areas as strong gales continue to hit much of the South Island and the bottom of the North Island.
Shortly after midnight Wednesday, MetService recorded a 148 km / h gust at Cape Turnagain on the east coast of the lower North Island, while the South West Cape on Stewart Island the gusts reached 135 km / h.
For Thursday, MetService forecasts a probability of heavy snowfall of up to 500 meters in parts of Southland, Clutha, Central Otago and inland from Dunedin.
New Zealand Transport Agency / Things
The Homer Tunnel, on Milford Road, has been closed for three days due to the danger of snow and avalanches.
Snow of up to 500m is also forecast in Canterbury, North Otago, the southern lakes and possibly up to 500m in Westland.
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Gusts from the northwest could reach 130km / h at exposed locations in the Wellington area from Thursday morning through early Friday, and in the Canterbury High Country through Thursday night, MetService said.
Gusts could reach 120km / h in Marlborough on Thursday, north of Wellington and south of Wairarapa from Thursday afternoon until early Friday, and on the south coast of Fiordland, Stewart Island, Southland and Otago to Thursday morning.
Auckland avoids wild weather in the south, with a dry forecast for Thursday. Some morning clouds are predicted and northwest winds are expected to develop.
It’s a different story in Wellington, where gusts of 130km / h are expected in exposed spots starting in the afternoon, and spotty drizzle is forecast north of the city.
Christchurch is forecast to have high clouds with strong northwesterly winds gusting to 90km / h in exposed locations, then rain at night with a shift to the south.
Snow could fall on Milford Road, Crown Range Road and Lindis Pass for a time later on Thursday, and on Porters Pass from Thursday night until early Friday morning.
ALDEN WILLIAMS / STUFF / Stuff
Snow could fall as high as 500 meters Thursday in many parts of the South Island.
On Wednesday, Milford Road was closed for the third day, with snow covering the area and the Homer Tunnel portals.
Milford Road agency alliance manager Kevin Thompson said the avalanche risk has also been assessed as high.
New Zealand’s Transportation Agency, Waka Kotahi, issued a wind advisory for several roads in Southland and Otago as the regions continue to be battered by gales from the northwest on Wednesday.
The heaviest rain on Thursday is expected in the South Westland Ranges, but heavy rain is also possible on the North Westland Ranges, the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers and the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers. .
The Tararua Range could also have heavy rains between Thursday night and Friday morning.
