Photo: Snowbound south shivers in big freeze

Photo / Otago Daily Times

Otago and Southland have copped the worst of the cold southwesterly flow this week with freezing temperatures and up to 25cm of snow in some higher-altitude areas.

The stretch of road pictured between Clinton and Owaka could be negotiated only with chains yesterday. Gusts of up to 110km/h were recorded in Invercargill and Dunedin.

PowerNet said 141 customers lost power yesterday after poles between Clinton and Mataura went down. Otago and Southland were warned to expect more snow and strong southwest winds before a clearance today.

In the North Island, snow was expected only on the highest peaks.