Icy blast causes havoc throughout Canterbury

Snow blanketed Leeston, Canterbury, this morning. Picture / Chris Bedford

Heavy snow throughout Canterbury today collapsed roofs, cut transport links, closed schools, felled power lines and kept workers at home as a wintry blast swept across the country.

The snowstorm dumped about 25cm of snow throughout South Canterbury overnight.

Thousands of houses and rural properties went without power today as the snow toppled trees, snapped branches and brought down power lines throughout the province.

Christchurch International Airport was closed from 8.30am until 1.30pm, affecting thousands of travellers, with airlines forced to divert and reschedule flights.

Rural and city bus services were also cancelled and snow on the Midland rail line forced the cancellation of the Trans Alpine Express from Christchurch to Greymouth.

Schools throughout the region were closed and Lincoln University, near Christchurch, was forced to cancel examinations scheduled for today.

Police warned of "treacherous" road conditions around Canterbury and advised people who did not need to travel to stay at home.

Transit New Zealand advised this afternoon that State Highway 1 was closed at Rolleston, just south of Christchurch, and between Timaru and Rakaia, with delays expected.

A number of other lower and central South Island roads remained closed.

Motorists were advised to watch for ice and grit in shaded areas and on bridge decks and to take extreme care in the icy conditions. Drivers travelling on the alpine passes were advised to carry chains.

High winds and snow had closed Arthur's Pass, but the Lewis Pass remained open.

SH80 between the junction of SH8 and Mt Cook was closed, as was SH79 between Geraldine and Fairlie. SH77 between Ashburton and Darfield was closed and a land slip had closed SH73 between Otira and Kumara Junction.

SH8 between Timaru and Twizel was closed with no alternative route available.

Postal deliveries were cancelled in Timaru, Ashburton and Rangiora because of the heavy snow.

New Zealand Post advised that only limited mail and courier deliveries would be made in Christchurch today.

Snow was continuing to fall steadily in parts of Christchurch late this afternoon, forcing the closure of some bus routes in the hill suburbs.

Some surface flooding was reported in the Wigram area and Christchurch City Council roading staff were keeping an eye on the Heathcote River, with high tide expected about 6pm.

Snow was also reported to be falling in Banks Peninsula, which had escaped the brunt of the storm earlier today. Snow clearing was continuing on roads throughout urban Christchurch and motorists were urged not to pass snowploughing equipment.

Flooding was reported on SH75 in isolated locations between Tai Tapu and Kaituna Valley Rd.

Power cuts

Thousands of electricity users throughout the province are expected to spend a cold dark night, with contractors finding some back country roads totally impassable.

Elecricity Ashburton operations manager Ken Stirling said about 8000 customers in rural Mid Canterbury were still without power late this afternoon.

Contractors would work until dark and then be out again at first light tomorrow repairing lines brought down by snow or trees.

Orion New Zealand Ltd general manager, infrastructure, John O'Donnell told NZPA about 4500 customers in areas west of Christchurch had still to be reconnected by mid-afternoon.

Most central Canterbury townships, except Darfield, had been reconnected, but it was doubtful if Castle Hill and Arthurs Pass residents would have power restored tonight.

Contractors were working "flat tack" to make repairs, but snow was still falling in many areas.

"As fast as we're putting (lines) up, they're coming back down again," Mr O'Donnell said.

"It's a wee bit frustrating."

Mainpower planning manager Stuart Wilson told NZPA about 2000 customers in rural North Canterbury were without power this afternoon and repairs were "slow work".

"It's very slow moving staff and trucks around in the field," Mr Wilson said. "They can't go anywhere quickly and in some places they can't go."

Most main feeder lines would be connected by tonight, but there would still be properties without power.

"We'll probably still be fixing faults all day tomorrow."

Ministry of Education regional manager Michael De'Ath told NZPA he understood most schools throughout Canterbury were closed today, decisions taken by individual boards of trustees.

Almost 1000 students at Lincoln College had their exams cancelled because of the weather.

MetService spokesman Hayward Osborn told NZPA the cold snap was caused by a deepening depression coming off the Tasman Sea and moving late this afternoon across the top of the South Island.

The situation had brought gales to severe gales in the North Island and "dragged up very cold southerlies over the South Island".

Snowfalls of 10cm to 15cm had been recorded in parts of Christchurch, with 25cm-30cm at Rolleston, 30cm in Kirwee, 32cm at Burnham and 25cm-30cm at Geraldine.

The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) has issued an "extreme" avalanche danger warning for the Mt Cook region.

Meanwhile, the stormy weather also caused disruption in other parts of the country.

In Auckland, around 700,000 people were left without power after a wire snapped at the Otahuhu substation.

High winds caused the closure of Tauranga Airport this morning and a fallen tree closed the northbound lane on SH22 at Pukekohe Golf course.

An oil spill, heavy rains and gale force winds have also combined to close State Highway 1 between Pukerua Bay and Paraparaumu, 50km north of Wellington.

Central police communications spokesman Chris Turner said roading contractors were attempting to clean the oil spill and debris from the road.

Despite the severe conditions Cook Strait ferry sailings had not been affected and flights in and out of Wellington Airport were still on schedule.

- NZPA