Southern motorists are being urged to take care on the roads overnight and tomorrow morning as black ice is expected in many areas following the weekend's wintry blast.
Snow to low levels in the South made life difficult for road users today, especially in Dunedin, where bus services were disrupted all day.
The wintry conditions also led to cautions on many southern highways, and ongoing disruptions to flights at Queenstown airport.
The New Zealand Transport Agency this evening said a general warning for motorists to carry chains on all South Island alpine pass routes continued tonight and tomorrow.
Black ice could also cause problems in shaded areas tomorrow morning, NZTA Journey Manager Lee Wright said.
The MetService said that sleety showers or snow would retreat to the coast in the South overnight, and clear tomorrow morning.
Earlier report
The Otago Regional council advised (at 4.50pm) of the following information regarding bus services in Dunedin:
The Wakari service is now fully operational.
Due to ice, the Abbotsford service will only be running along North Taieri Road. It will not be servicing the Exmouth/Dall/Neill Street Loop.
The Brockville service is terminating at Brockville. It will not be travelling via Dalziel Rd, but will travel via Taieri Rd to Halfway Bush, then to the Octagon.
All other services are running to normal timetables.
- Check bus services here
Further afield, snow and ice prompted cautions for several roads, including State Highway 1, Kilmog-Gore; SH87 Outram-Middlemarch; SH85 Kyeburn-Palmerston; SH8 Cromwell-Omarama and Raes Junction-Milton; and SH90 Raes Junction-McNab.
- Check highway conditions here
Queenstown Airport continues to experience weather-related delays (Check flight status here).
In Canterbury, heavy snow was falling all over Banks Peninsula earlier today and local authorities advised against travelling in the area.
Summit Road at the base of the Peninsula was still closed this afternoon between Gebbies Pass and Evans Pass.
As the wintry blast moves up the country it is expected to bring a chill to the central North Island.
MetService said snow showers above elevations of 400m were likely in eastern parts of Taihape and Taupo, and over Hawkes Bay and the southern Gisborne ranges.
The forecasters also warned of an active trough moving slowly north bringing "bitterly cold southerlies" across the central North Island.
MetService expected snow in areas above 600m south of Wairoa, then in the ranges north of Wairoa from later this afternoon.
''Although snow accumulations look unlikely to reach warning criteria, higher level roads could be affected and the bitterly cold conditions could cause stress to vulnerable stock, especially as temperatures are not expected to rise significantly until at least mid-week," MetService added.
The Desert Road in the central North Island was also closed after a big dumping of snow.
MetService expected snow showers to continue this afternoon, with up to 2 to 3cm of snow settling.
Snow showers were also forecast to continue on the Napier-Taupo Road this afternoon and overnight, with up to 10cm of snow forecast to fall in areas from 600m above sea level.
MetService expected smaller amounts of snow in altitudes from 400 to 600m.
Snow showers also affecting the Rimutaka Hill Road north of Wellington this morning. Snow was expected to settle on higher parts of the road this evening and even tomorrow morning, where 2 to 3cm could accumulate, MetService said.
Back in the deep south, forecasters said a high pressure ridge was expected to build tomorrow, while cold southerlies would continue blasting the rest of the country.
