Few problems on roads as cold snap eases

Travel to work may have been slow for some but driving to the conditions has meant no major problems on Dunedin's roads this morning, police say.

Senior Sergeant Ed Baker said people were being careful and as conditions were not as bad as predicted, there had been no serious incidents this morning.

Traffic was slow coming in to Dunedin from Mosgiel but ''slow is good'', he said.

Dunedin City Council was advising motorists to take extreme caution due to widespread black ice and treacherous conditions especially on the hill suburbs.

Fea St Pine Hill, Mt Cargill and Three Mile Hill remained closed this morning. 

Further afield, the cold weather overnight has again made life difficult for travellers, with some flights cancelled at Dunedin and Queenstown airports.  

State Highway 87, Outram to Middlemarch, and SH85, Palmerston to Kyeburn, are closed, the New Zealand Transport Agency advises. 

Motorists are urged to take care on SH1 between Dunedin and Palmerston, SH8 between Alexandra and Raes Junction, and on the Lindis Pass -chains are recommended for the latter two.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council this morning advises that all roads are open in the area, but urges motorists to take care.

The AA advises caution on all central South Island roads.

More cold weather is forecast both around Dunedin city and in inland areas today, with overnight sub-zero temperatures crystallising yesterday's melting snow and hail into hard ice.

MetService lifted its weather warning for the region yesterday afternoon but advised cold temperatures under clearing skies in sheltered places would likely produce black ice on some roads.

The New Zealand Transport Agency and police continued to advise people not to travel unless absolutely necessary, and warned melting snow plus frosts expected this week would combine to produce ice hazards on roads for the next few days.

Dunedin City Council roading maintenance engineer Peter Standring yesterday said staff would be "keeping a close eye" on conditions as graders and grit trucks worked overnight to try to keep roads open.

The blanket of snow over Dunedin and Mosgiel yesterday resulted in a quiet city early yesterday. People stayed indoors, shops closed and most workplaces were empty as icy streets intimidated those considering driving.

The coldest regional temperature was -6degC at Ranfurly at 8am, with temperatures across Otago ranging from -1degC to 5degC for most of yesterday.

The heaviest snowfalls were in coastal Otago and Eastern and Northern Southland, with snow to sea level in Oamaru for the first time since 2003.

In contrast, inland areas usually prone to snow, such as Naseby, Wanaka, Kurow, Otematata, Omarama and Twizel, had little or none to speak of, while a smattering around Alexandra had melted by afternoon.

The weather disrupted flights in and out of Dunedin and Queenstown, with both airports closed on Sunday. Both reopened yesterday, but most flights in and out were cancelled, diverted or delayed.

The freezing conditions played havoc with traffic on roads in the South, with many, including state highways north and south from Dunedin, closed or passable only with chains until snow melted late in the day.

About 90 people stranded at Waitati, north of Dunedin, on Sunday night were able to leave when SH1 from Oamaru to Invercargill reopened in mid-afternoon.

Most of the arterial highways were reopened by last night.

In Dunedin, about 10 streets and roads were closed in the central city and hill suburbs, with graders and grit trucks working through the night and day to keep other roads usable.

Limited bus services operated in the city.

Snow disrupted services and major institutions around Otago, including courts, rubbish collections, and Dunedin and Wakari Hospital outpatient appointments, elective surgery and meals on wheels services in Dunedin.

Child-care services in Dunedin were closed for the day.

Otago Polytechnic was closed at 10.30am. Most classes at Otago University went ahead.

There were few traffic incidents reported to police, Senior Sergeant Kelvin Lloyd, of Dunedin, said.

It was not all bad news: skiers were overjoyed yesterday at up to 15cm of powder on southern skifields.

Thousands of skiers and boarders enjoyed an epic powder day at Coronet Peak and the Remarkables.

About 4500 people made the most of the best snow day of the season so far, with 40cm of powder falling at the Remarkables and more than 25cm on Coronet Peak.

Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive John Christie said conditions caused some businesses to either shut or work with skeleton staff.

In George St, Dunedin, many banks and retail businesses were closed, including those in the malls. Most food outlets opened.

Technology meant some people could work from home, he said.

He urged people to keep in touch with employers, use common sense when travelling and check for road closures and conditions.