Winter Weather: Freezing blast hits South Island, snow to low levels

Snow has dusted parts of Canterbury and Dunedin and dumped it further inland, closing roads and disrupting travel.

The following state highways are currently closed:

• SH8 Fairlie to Twizel (Burkes Pass)
• SH85 Palmerston to Kyeburn

Lindis Pass from Omarama to Tarras is open, as is SH87 Outram to Kyeburn, and
SH85 Palmerston to Kyeburn,

Due to snow on SH77 Windwhistle to Methven vehicle restrictions are now in place: Chains essential and are closed to towing vehicles

The Inland Scenic Route from Darfield to Geraldine is open but snow is down to low levels and chains are required in places.

Snow blankets Rakaia Gorge in Canterbury. Photo / George Heard

The Rakaia Gorge Road is open but Mt Hutt Skifield is closed due to heavy snow.

Methven is blanketed in snow as the storm makes its way up the country.

MetService forecaster Gerard Barrow said snow fell widely across the South yesterday as a front moved up the lower South Island.

In St Bathans, about 600m above sea level, an observer reported that it started snowing about 10am, and by about 4pm 8cm had accumulated.

Places above 500m, including Ranfurly, would likely have had 5cm to 10cm, with lesser amounts accumulating below that.

Sheep covered in snow on Inland Road in Canterbury. Photo / George Heard

However, snow did not fall to a uniform depth over a large area, Barrow said.

After yesterday's snowfall, conditions would clear, but temperatures would drop, and this morning and tomorrow morning especially could present risks of icy roads for drivers around the region.

In Dunedin, it was supposed to drop to 2C to start today and to -2C inland in places such as Alexandra and Clyde.

The temperature would drop even further to -5C in those inland areas as the week progressed.

Tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday were expected to be dry, but the weather would flow from the east or south and "it is going to be cold".

Maximum temperatures would remain in the single digits for the week.

Still, the reports of snow were welcomed on Dunedin social media yesterday.

Effusive reports of snow were made from Wakari, Shiel Hill and many from Pineapple Track, where a few centimetres covered the ground.

One observer said the area was "jam-packed" and some people had brought along skis.

Additional reporting ODT