By ANNE-MARIE EMERSON HOLD on to your hats it's going to be windy today. MetService has issued a severe gale watch for all the North Island and parts of the South Island, with squally westerlies expected to hit Wanganui and surrounding areas in the late afternoon and evening. The winds willbe accompanied by showers and possible thunderstorms. Bob Lake, MetService weather forecaster, urged travellers to take care as the combination of wind and wet could produce hazardous driving conditions. "Don't travel unless you need to, and if you need to, you should check the latest weather warnings first." Conditions in the central North Island especially in the Desert Rd area were likely to be particularly treacherous, in the aftermath of snow and sleet forecast for last night. Mr Lake said 10-15cm of snow was due to hit the central plateau last night, with snow showers passing as far south as Waiouru and Ohakune. But bad news for motorists means good news for the North Island ski fields. A spokesperson for Whakapapa skifield said the road to Whakapapa Village was closed yesterday morning because of snow and treacherous conditions. "We've had 25cm [of snow] in the last 35 hours. It's snowing right now, and we've got the groomers and snowmaking machines going full blast." "Hopefully by this weekend we should have plenty of runs open for skiers and snowboarders." Heavy snowfall saw the Desert Road closed yesterday evening, and traffic was diverted through the Tongariro National Park. Snowfall warnings were also in effect on that route.
