Snow has closed an Otago highway and more of the white stuff is expected across the region, including in and around Dunedin overnight.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) advised about 7.45pm on Monday that State Highway 87 was closed between Outram and Middlemarch, owing to snow.

NZTA also urged caution on SH1 and SH85 because of snow and ice. 

MetService this morning said a polar blast could bring snow to sea level around Dunedin until noon on Tuesday.

MetService forecaster Gerard Bellam earlier said a very cold front would hit Stewart Island on Monday morning and travel up the east coast of the South Island.

“Then behind that, we’re seeing a very cold outbreak of strong southwest winds coming all the way up from the ice [Antarctica].”

It was expected to bring snow down to low levels and winds gusting up to 90kmh, from South Otago, past Dunedin and into North Otago, he said. 

“So as we go overnight, in to Tuesday morning, we’re expecting snow down to about 200 metres, and that will affect Dunedin’s hill suburbs and the motorway heading out of the city as well.

“This is probably the coldest outbreak of this year, we’re thinking, but it’s mostly confined to the coastal areas of eastern Otago.

“It’s not really penetrating that much inland.”

MetService had earlier issued a road snowfall warning for the Dunedin to Waitati Highway (SH1), from 7pm on Monday until noon on Tuesday, when up to 4cm (possibly more) could fall above 200m.

That was later updated to say snow could fall to sea level.

Inland there is also a road snow warning for the Crown Range Road.

The snow had the potential to create dangerous driving conditions around the higher suburbs of Dunedin — particularly Pine Hill.

“Certainly, we don’t need much — one or two centimetres is enough to cause disruption on those higher roads,” he said.

“It could provide some dicey driving conditions.

“And the thing is, I’ve noticed recently in these frosty outbreaks in Central Otago, and even up in the North Island, there has been quite a lot of minor crashes … so it needs to be pointed out to them [drivers].”

He urged residents to keep an eye on the forecast in case heavy snow and severe gale warnings were issued.

For the rest of the week, a large high pressure system was expected to sit over Otago and Southland, bringing clear skies and frosty mornings with temperatures dropping to -6˚C, he said.  

john.lewis@odt.co.nz