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Otago Daily Times
16 hours ago
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Snow shuts highways in South
Snow has closed the Lindis Pass (SH8) in Central Otago on Saturday. Photo: MetService Heavy snow has closed roads in Otago and warnings are also in place throughout the region and in Southland. Southern police are advising motorists to be aware of the closures and to take caution when driving today. The Lindis Pass (State Highway 8) is closed from Tarras to Omarama. SH87 from Middlemarch to Kyeburn is closed, with a warning to avoid this area of or delay your journey if possible, and SH85 from Omakau to Palmerston is also shut. A police spokeswoman said motorists should limit themselves to essential travel only and allow for extra time on their journey. "Reducing speed, using headlights and windscreen wipers, and wearing seatbelts will also ensure a safe trip. "Our roads are unforgiving and less predictable in our icy winter conditions, please drive with caution." The Crown Range summit blanketed in snow this morning. Photo: MetService MetService says a heavy snow watch is in place for Central Otago, Southland north of Lumsden, also inland Dunedin and Clutha from 3am until noon on Saturday. Periods of heavy snow above 400 metres were expected. Heavy snow was affecting the Crown Range, linking Queenstown and Wānaka this morning, and a snow warning was also in place for Southland's Milford Rad (SH94). There are ice warnings at Middlemarch and Outram, near Dunedin. Ski fields near Wānaka have been blanketed, with Cardona Alpine Resort reporting 29cm of fresh snow overnight and more expected throughout the day. "The forecast has snow continuing throughout the morning and snow flurries over the day. Lifts will be delayed opening. Our teams are out assessing conditions, and we will open terrain as soon as its safe." At Treble Cone, 25cm had fallen in time for the ski field's opening day today. "Triple Treat groomed flat with fresh snow on top and we aim to open Upper Main Street and Big Skite pending patrol setup. Take care if venturing off-trail as this snow is thin. Cafe will be cranking with live DJs this afternoon." Drivers were advised chains were needed at both ski fields. Meanwhile, flood repair works are scheduled for SH1 near Hampden in North Otago and SH8 near Lawrence and Beaumont. Stop and go traffic controls may be in place, RNZ reported. Snow warnings for alpine roads LINDIS PASS (SH8) From midnight on Friday until 9pm on Saturday Snow is forecast to lower to 600 metres, and 3cm to 6cm of snow may settle on the road near the summit with lesser amounts to 600 metres. CROWN RANGE ROAD From 2am to 6pm on Saturday Snow forecast to lower to 500 metres, and 4cm to 8cm may settle on the road near the summit with lesser amounts to 500 metres. MILFORD ROAD (SH94) From 2am to 1pm on Saturday Snow forecast to lower to 700 metres, and 2cm to 5cm of snow may settle on the road near the summit with lesser amounts to 700 metres. - ODT Online
Otago Daily Times
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Otago Daily Times
Cool change: snow and rain for South Island
MetService meteorologist John Law told RNZ's Morning Report programme today conditions this week would kick off the winter to come. "The combination of that cold air pushing up the country and that moisture will mean the return of some wintry weather over the tops of the Canterbury high country. "So those are the regions first off that will find that snow weather. "But by the time we head towards Friday and the weekend, I think all of us will find our temperatures are well and truly colder than it has been." A period of snow was likely for the Canterbury High Country late on Wednesday and it could fall above about 800 metres in the South Canterbury High Country. Law said the weather in coming weeks would be a "pretty good taste" of winter and the region could see snow fall down to 300 metres. In Southland, snow showers were forecast about the Homer Tunnel on the Milford Road (State Highway 94) overnight tomorrow into Thursday and possibly Friday, with snow above 400 metres that day. Meanwhile, a heavy rain watch was in place for Fiordland, north of Breaksea Sound, from 7pm today until 11am tomorrow. Heavy rain watches were also in place for Motueka, Marlborough and Nelson in the Tasman region, all with a high chance of being upgraded to a warning. MetService said surface flooding and slips were possible. - ODT Online and RNZ
