South Island weather warnings: Snow-goers left trapped on ski field following road closures

Snow has been falling in Queenstown. Photo / Dhariwal Harpreet

Hundreds of skiers and boarders were left trapped at the top of the Remarkables skifield following forced road closures due to avalanche warnings and snow.

The South Island field has had more than 30cm of fresh snow at the base and upwards of 50cm at the top over the past 48 hours. The field was open this morning, but closed again when temperatures rapidly increased, posing an avalanche risk.

As a result, ski patrollers closed the road – trapping those who remained on the mountain.

Snow has blanketed much of the south today.

Max Coombes, 21, said he was on the field at the time.

“We were probably stuck up there for about an hour ... there would have been hundreds, maybe about 500 people stuck with us I reckon,” he said.

Coombes said the patrollers closed the road while they worked to clear the snow and manage avalanche risks.

An NZSki media spokesperson said: “The Remarkables Ski Area access road was put on hold at 10.30am to clear snow from a section of the road”.

“While the road was on hold the mountain was closed at 11.45am due to the large overnight snowfall rapidly and unexpectedly warming during the morning, creating unacceptable avalanche risk on both the ski area and the road,” they said.

Skiers and riders up the mountain at the time waited at the base building or in their vehicles in park one until it was successfully cleared.

“The road opened again at 1.10pm and all guests left the mountain,” said the spokesperson.

The ski area will reopen on Saturday once this risk is sufficiently controlled.

It comes as heavy snow warnings remain in place for parts of the South Island as snow continues to fall, affecting roads and causing power outages.

Southern Canterbury High Country and inland Otago, and also possibly northern Southland, are expected to receive heavy snowfall today, according to MetService.

In its latest forecast, MetService says Canterbury High Country south of the Rakaia River can expect 10cm to 20cm of snow to settle above 500m, with lesser amounts down to 300m across the day.

Powder chasers at Wanaka's Treble Cone ski field waiting for the lifts to open following a morning of heavy snow fall.

The region is currently under a heavy snow warning.

Motorists are advised to expect travel disruptions.

MetService told South Islanders inland to prepare for snow, cold temperatures and possible power outages.

“If you must travel, drive cautiously, and ensure you have snow chains, sleeping bags, warm clothing and emergency items,” said the forecaster.

In an update at 12.15pm, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said SH6 Haast to Makarora and SH80 Lake Pukaki to Mount Cook remain closed due to snow and ice.