City misses worst of cold snap

Sleds and snowboards were out in force in Dunedin this morning after about 10cm of snow accumulated on the city's high spots overnight.

Dunedin police reported several minor crashes, although no-one was injured.

Travellers arriving at Dunedin airport reported bumpy landings as cross-winds battered the Taieri Plains in the late morning.

Three-mile Hill and SH87 between Outram and Middlemarch and SH85 at Kyeburn, were closed by snow for the morning while caution was required on several other South Island roads.

Much of the snow in Dunedin city had melted by midday and snow warnings for the south and eastern Otago were lifted, but a spell of severe southwest gales was expected about the coast from Stewart Island to the Otago Peninsula from this afternoon, the MetService said.

Transit NZ and AA cautioned motorist to take care on black ice on SH85 between Ranfurly and Alexandra and SH8 between Omarama and Tarras. Motorists were also cautioned over heavy snow on SH94 between Mossburn and Te Anau and the Milford Rd and Crown Range.

The AA warned motorists to be aware of high winds picking up from mid-morning on SH6 between Cromwell and Arrow Junction.

Elsewhere, travellers were facing further delays today due to an icy southerly blast which swept through the country yesterday.

Christchurch Airport was also just getting its flight schedules back on time after several of its planes took an hour to have ice removed.

An airport spokesman said several flights were cancelled yesterday afternoon and though they resumed in the evening, there had been delays most of the morning due to the need for de-icing.

One service were delayed for 90 minutes due to the need to remove snow and ice layers, the spokesman said.

The Desert Road remained closed late this morning due to the snow, while police said road conditions were icy and very dangerous on all roads between Waipara and Cheviot in north Canterbury.

Northbound traffic was backed up some way on State Highway 1 at Greta Valley after the northbound lane was blocked by two trucks due to ice.

The inland road between Waiaui and Kaikoura was closed, and could be for some time with severe ice and frost forecast for tomorrow morning.

The weather also severely affected last night's rugby test between Ireland and the All Blacks, with several players saying it was the coldest playing conditions they could remember.

The front had gone much of the way up the North Island by late this morning.

 

 

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