The polar blast eased in Otago yesterday as winds dropped and snow showers turned to rain, but roading contractors still battled to keep the region's highways open.
MetService warned yesterday a new set of problems could develop by the weekend as a high-pressure system approached the country. Forecaster Rachel Kirkman said clearer skies and cold temperatures could turn the slush and rain into frost and ice.
MetService said yesterday the severe weather warning for Otago and Southland was still in force, with bitterly cold conditions forecast to continue until tomorrow.
New Zealand Transport Agency Otago-Southland highways operations manager Murray Clarke said SH87 between Outram to Kyeburn, SH85 between Palmerston and Kyeburn and SH8, the Lindis Pass, were the worst hit.
Those roads are still closed this morning.
Highway contractors were facing some of the most severe winter conditions in years.
"Huge amounts of snow need to be shifted on a number of highways, with up to 2m deep snowdrifts on SH87 between Outram and Middlemarch."
The main focus was to keep SH8 from Clarksville Junction to Alexandra open to secure road access to Central Otago.
"This may mean some of the worst affected highways such as 85 and 87 may not be open until Thursday or even Friday."
Further south, the focus was on keeping SH6 between Invercargill and Queenstown open, but heavy snow was causing issues between Lumsden and Queenstown, so it may have been closed last night for safety reasons.
In Dunedin, predicted snowfalls of up to 50cm in the hill suburbs failed to eventuate yesterday. Warmer weather on Tuesday night melted much of Monday's snow and, while snow and ice still lay in the hill suburbs, central-city roads were largely clear by mid-morning.
Retailers were back in business, buses back to an almost 100% normal timetable and early childhood centres open.
All Southern District Health Board outpatient appointments and scheduled elective surgery at Dunedin and Wakari Hospitals proceeded as planned yesterday.
However, all Dunedin schools shut for the day and flights out of Dunedin International Airport were delayed or cancelled as airports in other parts of the country were hit by ice and snow.
Five people were forced to stay overnight again, including one person who was one of 100 stranded the night before, but this time the overnighters were able to sleep on stretchers, courtesy of the New Zealand Army.
While Dunedin airport was operating all day, many flights ran significantly late due to delays and closures at other New Zealand airports, he said.
Depending on the weather, it was hoped the backlog would be cleared today.
NZ Post said mail was delivered yesterday in most parts of Dunedin and Oamaru, but none in Alexandra, Queenstown, Wanaka and Gore.
Road closures
Dunedin
Closed: Mt Cargill Rd.
Highways
Closed: SH8 Omarama to Tarras; SH87 Outram to Kyeburn; SH85 Kyeburn to Palmerston.
Restrictions: SH1 Waikouaiti to Dunedin (extreme care); SH85 Ranfurly to Omakau, SH6 Haast to Makarora (chains); SH6 Kingston to Five Rivers (caution); SH6 Queenstown to Kingston, SH6 Cromwell to Queenstown, SH8 Roxburgh to Raes Junction, SH8 Alexandra to Roxburgh (carry chains).
