Fears frost could bring further challenges

The worst of the snow appears to be over for southern areas, but authorities are worried an overnight frost could bring fresh challenges.

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Queenstown Lakes District Council transport manager Denis Mander reminded people this afternoon that although the snow was disappearing from the Queenstown area they needed to be cautious about frost and ice on roads and footpaths.

"Priority" footpaths had been gritted in the Queenstown area, including those around local schools, in case there was a heavy frost tonight.

Fernhill footpaths would also receive special attention tonight, although Mr Mander said it had been deemed safer to leave the snow where it is on some steep streets.

Further south, Emergency Management Southland manager Neil Cruickshank said motorists should be wary of black ice on roads throughout the region, and drive cautiously.

• No mercy for errant drivers

The heavy snow to sea level that was predicted for today resulted in the closure of State Highway 93 from Clinton to Mataura, while the Knobs Flat-Milford Sound stretch of SH94 was closed too, and caution was advised for the Lindis Pass. 

Snow was expected to reach about 200m in Dunedin today with sleety showers and cold southwesterly winds due to continue until tomorrow.

With school holiday traffic heading for Queenstown and Wanaka skiing holidays, skifield operators and authorities urged motorists to drive to the conditions, the latter threatening fines if they do not.

Hazardous road conditions had already led to chaos on the Coronet Peak access road with staff having to pull 50 vehicles out of water tables by 3pm yesterday.

Avalanche risk had receded at the resort from "extreme" earlier in the week to "high", but those eager to get into the back country were advised to "leave it for a couple of days".

QLDC managed to reopen the Crown Range road to one-way traffic about 11am, and two-way traffic was restored just before 3pm this afternoon.

Although the road is open chains are required, speed restrictions remain in place and work to clear the road completely will continue overnight.

"The road is open but clearance is quite tight," Mr Mander said. "We ask everyone travelling on the Crown Range to obey signage and reduce their speed while the clearance work continues."

Southland has escaped the worst of the snowstorms forecast to hit the region today, but he said snow and ice were likely to continue to make roads treacherous overnight and in the morning.

Mr Cruickshank praised those who had stocked up on essentials such as food, torch batteries and radios, in case snow had closed roads or disrupted supply chains, as happened last September in Southland.

Snow storms can be a fickle beast and a challenge for forecasters, so it's always better to err on the side of caution," Mr Cruickshank said.

Lee Stream School closed at lunch time today as a precaution, although a farmer in the area said "next to no snow'' had fallen by 4pm.

The farming area about 15km from Outram experiences frequent snowfalls in winter and the school's teachers communicate with their 24 pupils via the school website on "snow days''.

Today was the first snow day this year, the website said.

In Queenstown, winds gusting to 100kmh at Coronet Peak just before 3pm yesterday, combined with heavy snow and 5000 people on the mountain, created pressure for NZSki staff.

Avalanche Centre regional avalanche forecaster, Chris Cochrane, of Queenstown, said the avalanche risk in the resort meant people needed to give the back country time to "settle down" before venturing into it.

While snow fell at Coronet Peak yesterday morning, it cleared, before turning heavy late yesterday afternoon.

NZSki chief executive, James Coddington, said winds also picked up and the priority turned to getting customers off the mountain safely.

Earlier this week, he told the Otago Daily Times motorists were not heeding warnings, were unfamiliar with driving in snow, and were not fitting chains properly.

"Often the visitors to town are not used to driving in these conditions or putting on chains and it's causing all sorts of issues and troubles.

"The message, basically, is leave your car at home or adhere to the chains advice."

The Remarkables Ski Area manager, Ross Lawrence, said if snow chains were not being carried, the vehicle was not allowed to access the mountain.

More than 1600 customers were on the mountain and enjoying the conditions.

The weather was expected to clear in time for the start of the school holidays and staff were "looking forward to that", Mr Lawrence said.

Wanaka was also gearing up for the expected holiday influx.

The Cardrona skifield is to open the Valley View chairlift for the first time tomorrow.

Treble Cone plans to open the home basin today and the saddle basin tomorrow. The Snow Farm and the Snow Park opened yesterday.

Chains are essential for all vehicles on all Wanaka skifield access roads.