Rug up Otago - more cold weather is on the way. Some may have thought yesterday's snow and ice was enough, after disrupted travels by road and air, but forecasters warn there's more in store.
The MetService is predicting snow showers down to 300m for Dunedin today and ''strong, cold southerlies'' throughout the day, with temperatures unlikely to get above 7degC.
Meteorologist Rob Kerr said it was likely to be much colder come the weekend, with temperatures in coastal areas of Otago not expected to reach more than 3degC and inland areas, including Dunedin Airport, Queenstown and Alexandra, forecast to experience temperatures as low as -6degC.
Motorists are advised to take care on roads again and drive to the conditions today, particularly in shaded areas, hill sections and bridges, as these areas may be slippery.
Ranfurly Naseby area had light snow overnight. The Ida Valley Omakau Road has black ice, areas have been gritted and caution is advised.
The New Zealand Transport Agency (LTSA) advised that State Highway 94 Te Anau To Milford Sound is closed from Hollyford and Chasm due to snow and risk of avalanche, but is expected to reopen this afternoon.
Snow showers are forecast for alpine passes in the South Island. They are expected to clear on Arthur's Pass today and on the Lewis and Porters passes tomorow. Only motorists with chains should drive SH73 between Arthur's Pass and Springfield.
The Danseys Pass remains closed.
For more road information check the New Zealand Transport Agency website
Treacherous roads
The wintry weather yesterday caused morning chaos in Otago, particularly around Dunedin and Queenstown. Black ice and compacted snow made roads treacherous and iced over airport runways, disrupting the plans of thousands of travellers.
Several minor car crashes occurred around both centres and multiple flights were cancelled or delayed.
About 10cm of snow remained on the ground in Dunedin's hill suburbs just before the sun came up yesterday, causing any liquid on the roads to freeze, leaving behind widespread black ice.
Dunedin Airport communications manager Megan Crawford said four arrival flights to Dunedin were cancelled before the sun came out about 10am, ice on the runway started to thaw and flights could resume. Six other flights were delayed.
There was a backlog of passengers and a knock-on effect due to those delays, she said.
Queenstown Airport resumed flights at midday, after 12 flights were cancelled.
About 1000 Air New Zealand customers at Dunedin Airport and 1600 at Queenstown Airport were affected.
Police dealt with 18 reports of minor incidents caused by ice on the roads around Dunedin, Queenstown, Central Otago and Southland over the day.
In the worst, a car struck a power pole on Lovelock Ave in North Dunedin about 9am, and a car trying to avoid a four-car crash near the Taieri Bridge on the highway at Henley ended up down a bank. No-one was badly injured in either incident.
Accommodation was stretched in Dunedin as people delayed their journeys, including 37 Chinese tourists whose tour company, Worldway Travel, decided not to continue by bus as scheduled to Central Otago. A spokesman said alternate accommodation was ''tough to find'' in the city.
Warnings and closures on snow-affected highways across the region were gradually lifted by the middle of the day, though the SH94 Te Anau-Milford road remained closed last night because of avalanche debris.
The Northern Motorway out of Dunedin, which closed about 9.30pm on Tuesday, reopened about 9.30am yesterday.
Mail deliveries were also affected across the region, with no deliveries in Queenstown yesterday and limited delivery in Invercargill, Gore and Balclutha.
Courier deliveries were delayed in all areas, including Dunedin, where mail was also delivered late due to the slippery conditions, a New Zealand Post spokeswoman said.
Despite the disruption, local children revelled in school holiday fun with the snow giving residents of Halfway Bush, Wakari and and the surrounding suburbs the opportunity to slip, slide and sled.
They made the most of the harsh weather, building snowmen, throwing snowballs and making snow angels.
