Snow-hit highways to reopen

Motorists clear snow from their stranded vehicles near Napier yesterday. Inset: Blankets ease the chill for Areta Winikerei (L) and Melissa Barry. Photos / Hawke's Bay Today, Alan Gibson

Two major North Island highways could re-open this afternoon after unseasonal heavy snow in the last two days stranded motorists for two nights.

The Napier Taupo Highway and State Highway Five were both closed by heavy snow but police have said they will be re-opened later today.

However, the local council has said the roads will not be re-opened until all the cars are picked up. Taupo District Council spokesman Mike Watson said there are no promises that the road would re-open this afternoon.

Motorists were rescued from their stranded vehicles yesterday and spent another night in emergency accommodation last night.

Metservice was forecasting another 5cm to 8cm of snow above 500m on the central plateau last night.

But the weather is improving with a few light snow showers still likely above 500 to 600 metres until this afternoon.

Metservice said snow showers on the Desert Road would continue today, fuelled by an aggressive sub-Antarctic southerly wind.

At the peak of the snow storm, 900 homes and businesses were without power in the Napier to Taupo Rd region and on the Taupo plains.

Spokesman for lines company Unison, Danny Gough, said trees had come down onto power lines and others were looking dangerous.

He said the trees would need to be felled before power could be restored.

Mr Gough said there were still 400 homes and businesses without power and some could be in the dark until later this week.

"Please bear with us. We do understand this is a huge issue for affected customers and we're doing all we can," Mr Gough said.

Police closed the Desert Road, State Highway 49 from Waiouru to Ohakune and State Highway One between Waiouru and Taihape last night. The roads remained closed this morning.

Two lows, one east of Gisborne and the other north of Bay of Plenty, were directing a cold, moist southeast flow on to the North Island.

The unseasonal snow caught sheep farmers in the middle of late lambing.

Snow was reported as far north as Te Aroha and Katikati. Much of Waikato shivered in 6C temperatures and in Auckland the temperature peaked at 10C.

WeatherWatch head analyst Philip Duncan said yesterday's snowfalls were a rare event.