The aftermath of wild weather could be seen across the region yesterday as snow blanketed the Wakatipu and a catamaran which capsized in 120kmh gales sank further into Dunedin’s Otago Harbour.
Annalies Ruigrok, the partner of the owner of a catamaran which capsized at the height of Wednesday’s storm, said she felt "terrible" after attempts to salvage the uninsured vessel failed.
The couple were alerted to the capsize about 4pm on Wednesday, but with only about an hour of daylight left the boat could not be righted, she said.
Three attempts to right the vessel were made yesterday.
Late yesterday the inverted craft remained tied to a buoy about 100m off Macandrew Bay township.
"It was built by hand and we launched it about 14 months ago," she said.
Catamaran builder and owner Pleun Van Der Lugt said he was "overwhelmed" by offers of help to right the vessel.
"The generosity of people that rushed in to give a hand. It wasn’t for lack of trying that we didn’t get it out."
In Queenstown, snow caused disruption on roads and delayed starts for schools.
However, the snow was welcomed by skifields, with falls of about 60cm.
Dunedin City Council recreations, planning and facilities manager Jendi Paterson said newly installed sand sausages on St Clair Beach fared well in the rough seas.
"I think they have held up really well. We had a contractor look at them given the high seas and the high tide we had last night."
Across the region, green paddocks turned white with snow were reported from Outram to Arrowtown.
Federated Farmers Otago provincial president Phill Hunt said the unseasonable snowfall was "certainly not good" for farmers who were in the middle of lambing.
"So long as it is a short snap going through, most animals can cope pretty well, though.
"If it lingers, that’s when we get in trouble."
MetService meteorologist Lisa Murray said the chance of more snow falling across the region was low, but black ice was likely on Central Otago roads.
"A ridge of high pressure moving from the Tasman Sea over the lower half of the South Island is keeping showers and snow at bay.
"But the ground is cold and over the next few nights temperatures will plummet."
Queenstown and immediate surrounding areas were particularly at risk of black ice, she said.
"Within a day or two, Dunedin will have 15degC temperatures again and the region will warm up."
Queenstown was likely to reach 14degC tomorrow.
