After more than a week of sub-zero night temperatures, pockets of hoar frost lingered at Hawea and along the Upper Clutha River yesterday.
Temperatures in Wanaka have not exceeded 3.7degC this week and have been as low as -5.3degC.
Curlers throughout Otago are dropping everything and making their way to the Idaburn dam after the bonspiel call was put out by ice master Stewart McKnight on Wednesday night.
About 130 curlers from the 16 clubs which make up the Idaburn Curling Council will compete for the Wilson Cup today, defended by 2009 champion the Poolburn Curling Club.
Mr McKnight said there was about 12cm of ice on the dam yesterday and the only thing that could upset that would be a large snowfall or strong NW wind, but he thought that unlikely.
"We are hoping for a frost; it has been a comparatively mild day."
By comparatively mild, he meant temperatures climbed above zero. Many days during the past week have seen daytime sub-zero temperatures linger in parts of Central Otago.
He was hoping to be able to call a national bonspiel for early next week which would see 70 teams from throughout the country compete over two days.
A decision would be made tonight.
There would "very likely" also be a bonspiel at the Manorburn dam this weekend, Manorburn Curling Club ice master Bert Kemp said.
The dam had 6cm of ice earlier this week and Mr Kemp said a decision about holding a bonspiel would be made today.
