Snow easing after affecting travel in deep south

Tuesday, 4 July 2017

Clutha has turned into a winter wonderland.

Snow has eased across the South Island's high country areas after the wintry weather closed schools and affected travel.

MetService has lifted its weather watch for heavy snow as conditions improved across the lower South Island on Tuesday.

Any falls in low-lying areas overnight were unlikely, meteorologist Brian Mercer said.

The NZ Transport Agency earlier issued warnings for at least seven South Island highways – State Highway 8 through the Lindis Pass, State Highway 85 from Alexandra to Ranfurly and State Highway 90 from Raes Junction to Willowbank.

Sate Highway 94 closed to towing vehicles from the Hollyford Valley Rd intersection to the Chasm Stream bridge because of black ice. Road grit was laid at Leith Saddle in Otago.

MetService meteorologist April Clark said 1-2cm of snow was reported from a farm between Clinton and Nugget Pt in southeastern Otago on Tuesday morning.

Clark said snow fell at higher levels, with 5-10cm reported early on Tuesday morning from the Lindis Pass.

By lunchtime the temperature in Invercargill made it up to 8.6C, Gore 5.6C, Queenstown was showing 6.3C and Dunedin 5.2C.

Freezing conditions produce a beautiful landscape near Mt Cook.

The Remarkables ski area reported 10cm of snow in 24 hours to early Tuesday.

'Another fresh tracks day at The Remarkables with great snow and grooming across all basins,' the ski field's website said.

Snow is expected to low levels in the deep south. This was Tekapo on Saturday.

Snow blankets Mt Cook after the wintry blast.

'Pow! New snow overnight has left a sweet blanket of goodness over our runs. 5cm at the base and 10cm at the top,' Coronet Peak said. Cardrona said it had 3cm overnight, while Treble Cone said 35cm of snow that fell during 24 hours on the weekend had ensured it could open on Wednesday, after previous persistent warm weather had made things difficult.

The low is forecast to move across the upper North Island on Thursday before moving away to the east on Friday, while a narrow ridge lies over the South Island.