State Highway 87 between Outram and Kyeburn was closed by snow and ice last night.
Strong, cold southwesterly winds blew over Queenstown yesterday, bringing snow, with blizzard-like conditions at times on the hillside suburbs of Fernhill and Sunshine Bay.
Flights to Queenstown were cancelled, diverted and delayed, including a Jetstar flight from Auckland diverted to Christchurch; flights to and from Christchurch cancelled; and Virgin Australia and Qantas flights from Sydney diverted to Christchurch and Dunedin.
The Remarkables ski area was closed all day and lifts at Coronet Peak were on hold early in the day because of high winds.
NZSki general manager of sales and marketing Craig Douglas said the recent storms blowing up the country had improved snow cover on both mountains.
Coronet Peak opened the expert back bowls area on Wednesday and Remarkables' homeward bound run opened on Saturday.
''The locals will understand that means everything's in good shape.''
A busy weekend was expected, he said, as the weather cleared and users could enjoy fresh snow.
On Wednesday night, a car driven by a British woman struck ice and rolled on State Highway 6 at the Lake Hayes turn-off.
Sergeant Kate Pirovano, of Queenstown, said the woman was trapped for a short time but was not injured in the incident, about 7.10pm.
Central Otago Residents of Central Otago faced snow showers, sleet and icy southwesterly winds all day. Roads remained open, with the exception of Danseys Pass, even though parts of the Maniototo still had snow lying by early evening. St Bathans bore the brunt of the cold snap, with about 7.5cm of snow coating the village last night, while Naseby and Wedderburn had 2.5cm.
Danseys Pass has been closed for almost a week because of heavy snowfall but the road was open on the Central Otago side as far as the Danseys Pass Coach Inn, so access to the hotel had been retained.
On the Lindis Pass and on the Milford Road, snow showers were expected to clear last evening.
South Otago Further east, South Otago was hit with cold showers and strong winds for much of yesterday but a ''hail day'' kept Catlins Area School pupils away. Staff and pupils were asked to stay at home because roads in the area that were hit by hail after thunderstorms in the morning were too slippery for school buses.
Tunnel Hill Rd, Owaka Valley Rd, and the Papatowai Highway were all hazardous at times yesterday morning as winds gusting up to 60kmh blew hail, sleet and rain across the Catlins.
