Drivers are trapped in heavy snow on two alpine passes as wintry weather closes state highways - including SH1 north of Dunedin - in the already storm-battered South.
State Highway 1 between Dunedin and Waitati, SH87 between Mosgiel and Kyeburn, SH8 from Tarras to Omarama (Lindis Pass), SH83 from Omarama to Kurow, SH80 from Aoraki-Mount Cook to Lake Pukaki, SH8 from Lake Tekapo to Fairlie, and SH6 between Haast and Makarora (including Haast Pass) are all closed to due to snow.
A police spokeswoman said cars were trapped at both Haast Pass and Lindis Pass and contractors were attempting to clear the snow to allow them out. They had received seven reports of trapped vehicles, some involving multiple cars, as of 8pm.
Snow had been falling steadily on SH1 north of Dunedin for much of the afternoon but began settling on the road as temperatures dropped further this evening, prompting the closure at about 8.40pm.
A live traffic camera at Leith Saddle shows vehicles attempting to travel south into Dunedin have been stuck at the summit since about 8.30pm.
MetService earlier issued a road snowfall warning for the Dunedin to Waitati Highway covering 2pm to 9pm today.
SH94 between Milford and Te Anau is also closed due to avalanche risk.
MetService also issued a heavy rain watch for North Otago covering the 10 hours from noon with "periods of heavy rain, and amounts may approach warning criteria".
Round three of the big southern weather bout is also forecast to bring heavy snow above 500m to parts of Queenstown Lakes and Central Otago.
While the weather was not expected to be as severe as the previous two bouts, it would come at a time when Southland was in a state of emergency and conditions would be difficult for residents and recovery workers.
"For people without power still, especially in the South, it could get quite unpleasant.
"You’re on the southern side of this low that’s crossing the South Island at this stage, so we are seeing quite cold temperatures coming through across Otago and Southland.
"The daily maximum temperatures will be down to the single figures, and the minimums will be as low as -3°C.
"The coldest place will be Gore, where we’re only forecasting a high of 8°C on Labour Day, which usually has an average of 15°C.
"It’s quite a cold outbreak."
He said the only good news was that the weather system would be short-lived.
Snow flurries were expected around the hill suburbs of Dunedin and the Dunedin to Waitati Highway (SH1) between 9am and 9pm today, but little, if any, was expected to settle on the road.
However, up to 30cm of snow could accumulate about the summits of the Crown Range Rd, the Lindis Pass (SH8), Haast Pass (SH6) and Milford Rd (SH94) between 8am and 10pm.
Mr Bellam said for much of the rest of the week, the skies should be clear. Frosts would return to the region in the mornings.
"So, a bit of a heads-up for the growers there.
"Anyone on orchards or vineyards, it’s not a good time to have frosts with those flowers on the trees and the vines."
