Snow beginning to fall in Dunedin

Snow has started to fall in parts of Dunedin as a bitterly cold southwesterly front continues to bite.

It was snowing for a time in parts of Dunedin including North East Valley, Roslyn, Woodhaugh and Fairfield about 5pm.

This comes after temperatures plummeted below 3degC in the city. More snow is predicted for the city tonight and tomorrow morning when snow is expected to fall to 100m.

Meanwhile, police in Invercargill have urged motorists to avoid or delay travelling in the wintry conditions today. They said the area had been experiencing snow showers and more were expected.

The NZ Transport Agency has a raft of area warnings in place, including for State Highway 1 from Palmerston to Pine Hill, SH87 Kyeburn-Outram, and SH85 Kyeburn-Palmerston. 

• Check highways here

Road snow warnings

Warnings issued by MetService at 10:55am

Dunedin Northern Motorway (SH1)

A few snow showers are forecast to affect the road from Sunday afternoon through to Monday morning. From 5pm today to 10am Monday, expect 1 to 2cm of snow to settle on the road. 

Lindis Pass (SH8)

Snow showers are forecast to affect the road from this (Sunday) afternoon through to Monday afternoon. Between 2pm today and 3pm Monday, expect 3 to 6cm of snow to settle on the road.

Haast Pass (SH6)

Snow showers may affect the road this (Sunday) afternoon and evening. Beween 2pm and 8pm today, 1 or 2cm of snow may settle on the road.  

Crown Range Road

Snow showers are forecast to affect the road through to Monday morning. Until 9am Monday, expect 3 to 6cm of snow to settle on the road.

Milford Road (SH94)

Snow showers are forecast to affect the road through to Monday afternoon. Until 3pm Monday afternoon, expect 8 to 12cm of snow to settle on the road above 400 metres with lesser amounts at lower levels. Snow showers are forecast to return to the higher parts of the road during Monday evening and 1 to 3cm of snow may settle near the summit of the road.

 - Video Luisa Girao

A spokesperson said there was a snow dump overnight and temperatures around -6°C early this morning.  Crews were struggling to remove the frozen snow.

The Queenstown Lakes District Council said there was snow overnight on the Crown Range Road and more was expected today. 

 - Video Luisa Girao

Elsewhere, grit was put down through the Kawarau Gorge and on SH6 between Frankton and Kingston.

 - Video courtesy John Cosgrove

- Video Guy Williams

 - additional reporting RNZ