An unexpected wintry blast which caused chaos on the roads yesterday caught the Dunedin City Council by surprise after roading crews had earlier been stood down.
The 3am wave of snow, hail and rain turned city roads into sheets of ice, causing numerous crashes, delaying the opening of schools and disrupting flights.
An ungritted Stuart St became impassable as early morning drivers lost control on the slippery surface, leaving vehicles strewn across the road.
A grit spreader sent to the rescue ground to a halt on upper Stuart St - one of several grit trucks across the city to became stuck.
It was decided that CMA, which prevents ice from forming on roads, was not required.
"Unfortunately, a further wave of snow, hail and rain arrived from 3am, despite earlier forecasts," he said.
Crews were dispatched at 4am to start gritting arterial roads but clear skies and freezing conditions turned the snow and hail to ice, he said.
Southern police put out a warning for motorists to take extra care on the roads after a spate of minor accidents across the city.
Police responded to two non-injury crashes on bridges near Allanton about 5am.
School start times around the city were pushed out to later in the morning.
Hill suburb buses were also cancelled or delayed and there were cancellations and delays at Dunedin Airport due to ice on the runway.
