The Queenstown Lakes District Council has advised that Skippers Road remains closed because of ongoing bad weather and a damaged road surface.
The road has been closed for nearly two weeks, and the QLDC said that with further rain anticipated, the road was expected to deteriorate further.
Crews would look to resume repair work next week.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi said the avalanche risk was high, amid ongoing "significant" rain, but in an update shortly after 1pm said the road would reopen at 2.30pm and remain open overnight. Motorists would need to carry chains from 6pm.
MetService has issued road snow warnings for the Milford Road, the Crown Range Road and the Lindis Pass for today and tomorrow, and a heavy rain watch for the Otago headwaters until 2pm today.
Road snow warnings
Crown Range Road
Valid: 20hrs from 9pm today until 5pm tomorrow
Forecast: A few snow showers are expected to affect the road this evening or overnight and 1 cm or less is expected to accumulate on the road. Further snow showers may affect the road on Friday afternoon and 1 or 2 cm of snow may accumulate above about 800 metres.
Milford Road (SH94)
Valid: 22hrs from 9pm today until 7pm tomorrow
Forecast: Snow showers are expected to affect the road this evening and overnight. Snow showers are expected to clear for a time on Friday morning but will return later in the morning and continue into early evening on Friday. Expect a total of 8 to 12 cm of snow near the tunnel and lesser amounts down to about 200 metres for a time overnight. Snow level lifting to around 600 metres late Friday morning.
Lindis Pass (SH8)
Valid: 20 hours from 9pm today until 5pm tomorrow
Forecast: A few snow showers may affect the road during tonight. Expect 1 cm or less to settle on the road above about 800 metres. Further snow showers may affect the road Friday afternoon and 1 or 2 cm of snow may settle above about 900 metres.
