Snow flurries were reported in the city earlier in the day and a warning for the motorway took effect from 3pm. Snow showers were forecast to affect the highway until 6am on Tuesday. Expect 1cm to 3cm of snow to settle on the road above 200 metres and lesser amounts at lower levels, MetService said.
By 9pm tonight, the main route north of the city was closed, with road users told to turn back to Dunedin. The NZ Transport Agency advised that SH1 between Dunedin and Waitati was closed, with no detour available.
An hour earlier, snow was being reported in the suburbs of North East Valley, Wakari, Halfway Bush and Brockville and sleety showers elsewhere.
Earlier in the day the cold snap disrupted air travellers, with flights in and out of Invercargill cancelled and several services at Dunedin Airport affected.
Some major roads including the Milford Road (SH94) and the Crown Range Road, linking Queenstown and Wanaka, were shut. Some schools were closed.
ODT DELIVERIES AFFECTED
There will be a limited delivery of the Otago Daily Times on Tuesday morning, as some Otago roads have been closed due snow and ice. They are: SH1 Dunedin to Waitati, SH 87 Keyburn to Outram, SH 85 Palmerston to Keyburn and SH8 Roxburgh to Alexandra.
Papers will be delivered in the Dunedin area and as south as we can get.
Additionally, snow was forecast to lower to about 100m and accumulations could reach warning criteria above 200m in parts of the southern region.
"I think this will be Otago and Southland’s first significant winter outbreak of the year."
Earlier, widespread snow fell in Southland today. There have also been falls in Queenstown, Balclutha, Naseby, Ranfurly and Lawrence.
Some schools in Southland closed for the day, including Northern Southland College, Lumsden School, Balfour Primary School and Mossburn Primary School.
ROADS AFFECTED
MetService this morning updated its severe weather forecast to include Dunedin and Central Otago in a heavy snow watch which took in much of the southern area.
The Milford Road (SH94) was closed for a time this morning but reopened. However, it would close again from 4.30pm today from Holyford to Chasm. Snow and freezing conditions are forecast throughout Tuesday.
The Crown Range Road between Queenstown and Wanaka was also closed and is now open again, but chains must be carried. It will be closed again from 10pm until 7am tomorrow due to ice.
A Queenstown Lakes District Council advisory said closing the road overnight would give contractors the "best chance" of preparing the road for opening tomorrow. The road remained open for residents.
In Central Otago, Danseys Pass Rd was closed (from the gates past the Danseys Pass Hotel) about 3.45pm and Moa Flat Rd would be closed from 5.30pm (Dalmuir Rd to the Central Otago District Council Boundary) due to snow and ice.
FLIGHTS DISRUPTED
All Air New Zealand flights in and out of Invercargill Airport have been cancelled today, and several services in and out of Dunedin Airport have been affected.
- Check flights at Dunedin Airport here
An Air New Zealand spokeswoman said flights were being disrupted across the country because of "terrible weather".
A Dunedin Airport spokeswoman said the airport was experiencing high winds, and the affected flights had been scheduled for smaller ATR72 propeller aircraft.
The Antarctic polar blast is currently causing disruption to Air New Zealand’s services across much of the South Island.
In a media statement this afternoon Air NZ said the "challenging weather is expected to last through to tomorrow and the airline is working through recovery flights for impacted customers".
"The airline strongly encourages those booked to travel on affected flights transfer their travel to another date by managing their booking online.
"Air New Zealand’s contact centre is currently experiencing a high volume of calls due to the travel pause with Australia contributing to longer wait times."
POLAR BLAST AND BIG WAVES
Niwa's forecasting and media principal scientist Chris Brandolino said the country was being hit by “a big punch of cold air” coming off the ice from deep in the polar region.
"The South Island’s going to cop the worst of it," Brandolino told The AM Show this morning.
“The windchills are going to be brutally, brutally cold."
He said that by sunset today, windchills for the lower third of the South Island could be down to -15 degrees Celsius.
MetService's Gerard Bellam said the weather would cause hazardous driving conditions and stress to livestock around the region.
"I’m sure the farmers have taken heed with the heavy snow watch and the road snow warnings, to move stock to lower grounds."
Large south-to-southwest waves were also expected to spread northwards over coastal areas of New Zealand today and tomorrow.
"You can get waves smashing up on to sea walls and the rocks, so people around the coast should be mindful that it’s not a safe time to be fishing off the rocks."
The waves might also cause damage to roads and communities typically affected by swells from these directions, Mr Bellam said.
MetService yesterday said that in Dunedin and Oamaru this morning, frequent showers, some heavy, would turn to snow down to 200m, and thunderstorms and hail were possible about Dunedin after noon.
Southwesterlies, gale in exposed places, could gust to 100kmh in both places.
Conditions in the Clutha area would be similar, except snow would fall to 100m and a heavy snow watch is in place.
In Queenstown, Wanaka and Alexandra, frequent rain showers were expected to turn to snow showers this morning and would be accompanied by cold, gusty southwesterlies.
In Invercargill, showers would be sleety, but in Gore and Tapanui, there would be frequent snow showers, and heavy snow watches are in place.
Squally thunderstorms and hail were also possible in these places, and there would be strong and gusty southwesterlies.
A heavy snow watch is also in place for Fiordland (south of George Sound), where accumulations may approach warning amounts above 200m in six-hour periods.
Milford Road (SH94) can expect 15cm-20cm of snow to settle above 500m between 3am and 7pm today; the Crown Range Rd can expect up to 6cm to settle on the road between 3am today and 2am tomorrow; Lindis Pass (SH8) can expect up to 8cm above 500m between 6am and 11pm today; and the Haast Pass (SH6) is expected to receive up to 3cm of snow on the road near the summit between 5am and 2pm today.
"People are advised to keep up to date with the latest Watches and Warnings in case any changes are made, or further areas are added," MetService's Gerard Bellham said.
The cold southwest flow would continue over New Zealand tomorrow and Wednesday, gradually easing later in the day on Wednesday, as a ridge of high pressure established itself over the country for Thursday and Friday.
- By John Lewis and ODT Online
