MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said conditions were expected to be drier today, making for a frosty morning across the region but it was only a slight coating of white that greeted Dunedin residents today.
"You'll have similar cold mornings for the rest of the week."
Dunedin was expected to drop from its high of 5degC yesterday to 3degC overnight. A fine start to the day, with afternoon showers and a high of 8degC, was predicted.
Severe frosts were expected in inland Otago and South Otago this morning, he said.
Black ice is highly likely in Southland today and snow on the roads meant extreme care was needed when travelling over the Kilmog to Dunedin and on SH 1 from Balclutha to Clinton.
Fears packed snow could turn to ice prompted roading authorities to grit some roads in the city yesterday and contractors will be out early today to continue gritting or clearing roads.
The southwest front which brought the snow and dropped temperatures to a low of 1degC in the city moved north yesterday afternoon, but not before creating treacherous road conditions, closing schools, and delaying or preventing hundreds of people from getting to work or opening businesses.
Sergeant Ed Baker, of Dunedin, said there were "dozens and dozens" of crashes in and around the city, with most involving a slow-speed slide into the gutter or a parked car.
He advised people who "like their cars the way they were" not to drive on icy roads.
Police also dealt with many reports of drivers taking unnecessary risks by taking advantage of the slippery conditions to do burnouts and doughnuts in their cars. Only one person was given a ticket.
The city was isolated for a time yesterday, with both the Northern and Southern Motorways closed, but by 8.30am the Southern Motorway had reopened, followed six hours later by the northern artery.
Dunedin City Council roading maintenance engineer Peter Standring advised people to be "very aware" of icy conditions this morning.
From early yesterday, roading contractors were busy gritting, sweeping and snow-ploughing as they concentrated on keeping main roads open.
During the day, driving in Stuart St had been restricted and Three Mile Hill Rd and Mt Cargill Rd closed.
Delta network services manager Lindsay McLennan said energy use in the city hit record levels when it increased 11% between 9am and 2.30pm yesterday compared with Monday.
Peak load for a half-hour period was 200MW yesterday, compared with 180MW on Monday.
Ice on the runway at Dunedin International Airport cancelled 10 inward and outward flights yesterday morning, Air New Zealand officials said.
A snowplough had been used to clear snow from the runway before daybreak, but ice had formed later.
After the ice melted, the first flight departed for Christchurch at 10.40am.
Scheduled services were restored yesterday afternoon, and the passenger backlog was cleared.
Otago District Health Board emergency medicine and surgery group manager Dr Colleen Coop said Dunedin Hospital's emergency department was "pushed" dealing with the results of a series of minor accidents.
Surgeries went ahead if patients and surgical teams turned up, she said.
Two Otago and Southland district health board committee meetings were affected by yesterday's weather - one was held by video conference and the other cancelled.
Coastal Otago hill farms were covered by up to 100mm of snow yesterday morning, but farmers said ample warning and full hay barns and silage pits meant the storm caused few problems.
Otago Polytechnic was closed and all examinations were cancelled yesterday. Aoraki Polytechnic's Dunedin campus cancelled all classes for the day.
Bus services in the city were also disrupted.
Citibus operations supervisor Richard Roberts said services on the flat resumed yesterday afternoon, but no buses ran to the hill suburbs.
