Large waves are expected to pound Dunedin's coastline this week increasing the risk of erosion as a biting southwesterly brings high winds and snow to Otago.
Waves of 5m-plus waves are expected today and tomorrow along the east coast, a combination of strong southwesterlies just offshore and heavy swells coming from the Southern Ocean, MetService spokesman Dan Corbett said.
"Sweeping waves on exposed eastern coasts bring the risk of coastal erosion and a risk to people on beaches."
Dunedin City Council parks manager Lisa Wheeler said staff would be keeping a close eye on the city's beaches for further erosion in the next few days.
Staff and consultants had visited beaches yesterday morning to assess recent damage and had decided to narrow some of the walkway between St Clair and St Kilda Beaches to keep people away from the edge of the dunes, given the expected weather. More warning signs would also be put up.
There had also been some damage to beaches at Ocean View, near Brighton, she said.
Mr Corbett said the major factor of this weather pattern was the wind chill the southwesterly would bring. Winds to gale-force level were expected for Otago Peninsula until the middle of the week.
"It'll feel sub-zero for the next couple of days."
MetService continued to predict the southwesterly would bring snow showers to the city and hills last night and today, down to about 100m (Roslyn overbridge is 165m) with a possibility of the odd shower to sea level.
"It won't be widespread like Christchurch last week, more a quick covering of the hills."
The winds and chill factor were expected to ease by the weekend.
