Snowfall warning for Desert Road amid cold, wet conditions

A snowfall warning has been issued for the Desert Road as a southerly system hits the North Island. Photo / Waka Kotahi

MetService has issued a snowfall warning for the Desert Road as wet and cold conditions hit the country.

The State Highway 1 warning is for 12pm to 8pm tomorrow.

The snow showers are expected to affect the road above 700m, with the possibility of 2cm-4cm accumulating near and south of the road’s summit, with smaller amounts further north.

MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane said the forecast was due to a southerly turn overnight.

“The last few days has been relatively mild but from [Monday night] into [Tuesday] morning the winds start to turn more southerly and that will start to usher in a wave of much colder air over the country, and with that we also have rain and showers expected,” she said.

“Because of all that cold air and the amount of moisture that is bringing all of those showers, the higher parts of the North Island could see some of that rainfall as snow, including over the Desert Road [on Tuesday].”

Makgabutlane said snowfall starting in the middle of the day was not uncommon.

“If it’s cold enough, and that moisture is deep enough which it seems to be, it’s not too unusual. It’s a case of things aligning perfectly,” she said.

In Waiōuru, the maximum temperature was forecast to be 6C with a low of -1C, but Makgabutlane expected it could be colder on the Desert Rd.

“On Desert Rd itself, once it starts snowing, the temperature could be closer to the low single digits if not close to zero.”

For updates on weather warnings, visit metservice.com/warnings

Olivia Reid is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.