Baby it’s cold outside

Mt Ruapehu had a good dusting of snow over the long weekend - the Turoa carpark was under 30cm of the stuff - with more forecast today.

The cold snap that plagued the country over Anzac weekend continued yesterday with strong southerlies and cool temperatures turning the great outdoors into an unappealing prospect yet again.

Snow fell in mountain areas, prompting predictions of a bumper ski season at Mt Ruapehu but making driving conditions treacherous in surrounding areas in the central North Island.

The snow was forecast to continue today and a new cold front was predicted to hit the country this afternoon, bringing with it a chill likely to last until the end of the week.

While the news is unlikely to bring smiles to many faces, the managers of Whakapapa and Turoa skifields on Mt Ruapehu were beaming yesterday.

Snow fell on the mountain throughout the long weekend and yesterday, blanketing both skifields down to 1600m.

"It's always good when the mountain looks nice and white," said Mt Ruapehu marketing manager Mike Smith.

Sitting in his office on the slopes, Mr Smith said Turoa's top carpark had received 30cm of snow. Whakapapa, on the mountain's northern side, had also had a healthy dusting, but less had settled there because it was windier.

Mr Smith said Mt Ruapehu had enjoyed good snow for the last three or four years and the cold fronts sweeping the country boded well for the upcoming ski season.

People had just a few more days to buy discounted season passes before they go up to full price on May 1.

Snow also fell in towns around the mountain in the weekend, including Ohakune and National Park. White patches remained in paddocks near National Park yesterday.

Though the snow had melted in most other places on the central North Island volcanic plateau, people were still feeling the cold.

"We're still being battered by wind," Turangi information centre manager Maryke Wilson said.

She had warned tourists not to do the Tongariro Crossing walk because the wind was blowing at more than 40km/h.

A Taupo policeman said it was "damn cold" in the town.

The Desert Rd was reopened yesterday morning after being closed for the second night in a row on Monday.

It was closed between Turangi and Waiouru after several minor crashes caused by snow and ice.

Police yesterday urged people to drive with caution because the road was still icy in patches.

MetService weather ambassador Bob McDavitt said the bitter southerlies of the past few days were brought on by a low over the Chatham Islands.

Mr McDavitt said the winds would change to northwesterlies at the end of the week, hopefully bringing an end to the cold snap.

Signs were already appearing that the chill was easing, he said.

The temperature in Auckland on Monday night was 10C, which was normal for this time of year.

However, frosts were recorded in some parts of the city, including Auckland International Airport and Henderson.

Rain was forecast for Auckland and Northland today - which is likely to be welcome news to farmers.

Mr McDavitt said a few millimetres over the weekend did little to ease desperately dry pastures in the north.

"If you're a farmer you're not happy."

The rain was expected to begin at dawn.

Winter's bite

* 30cm of snow at Ruapehu.

* 40km/h-plus winds on mountain routes.

* Freezing temperatures on Volcanic Plateau.