Wintry blast: Snow and sub-zero temperatures in the south, roads closed

Heavy snow warnings have expired and most highways have reopened after a polar blast dumped snow and closed roads in the South Island, and the freezing weather swept into the lower North Island.

Overnight Wanaka reached -3C and by 6am much of the lower South Island was shivering in near-zero temperatures.

Multiple highways in Otago were earlier closed due to snow or icy conditions, and in the North Island the Desert Road (SH1) was closed from Waiouru to Rangipo.

Desert Road reopened this morning, as did Remutaka Hill Road on SH2.

Snow is falling still along SH5 between Taupō and Napier, but the road remains open.

SH87 remains closed due to snow and ice between Outram and Middlemarch.

Snowfall warnings are still in place for the Crown Range and Milford Roads - along with SH1 Dunedin to Waititi until 6pm tonight, and the Remutaka Hill Road until early tomorrow morning.

Waka Kotahi South Island journey manager Tresca Forrester earlier said most of the roads were closed through the night to prevent people getting stuck in icy conditions, and and it shouldn't be a hard job to get them reopened during the day.

There were also likely to be some issues on the local roads in some of the inland Otago areas as snow did not just affect the state highways and people could stay up-to-date on that via their local councils, Forrester said.

At Dunedin Airport, two planes had four-hour delays this morning due to snowfall.

Heavy snow warnings were in place until 1pm for Otago and Southland, with further snow expected to fall above 200 metres - in the north snow above 200m was forecast for Wairarapa and the eastern hills of Wellington.

Snow was still falling at the top of Banks Peninsula's eastern bays late this morning, when it was 10cm thick. A heavy snow warning is still in force for the peninsula, with a further 5-10cm of snow expected above 200 metres.

Canterbury and Otago

NIWA meteorologist Chris Brandolino said there were likely to be more snow showers over eastern portions of Otago today.

"So Balclutha, Dunedin, they'll be dealing with snow showers, cold temperatures."

The core of the coldest air was likely to move over the South Island later today, he said.

"And then as that core of the coldest air shifts farther east things will very slowly, I do emphasise slowly, improve today but a pretty windy cold day for the entire country."

Many people could expect sub-zero temperatures this morning with conditions feeling like mid-winter, he said.

"And then we have gusty south to south-west winds and that means sub-zero wind chill."

Temperatures like this would not be out of place in July, but it was unusually cold for early October, he said.

Christchurch got some small snow fall, but nearby Banks Peninsula was were the snow was most evident, Brandalino said.

The cold conditions were unlikely to last though, he said.

"By early next week, say Monday, it's very possible that places that are dealing with snow, well everyone's dealing with the cold temperatures - places that dealt with snow this morning, for example Christchurch, they could be in the lower 20s."

RNZ's reporter in Christchurch said snow had fallen to sea level overnight and many cars and rooves were coated in snow this morning. Snow had not settled on the roads though and there were no major problems getting around the city, he said.

In Goughs Bay, on the eastern part of Banks Peninsula near Christchurch, cattle farmer Sandie Stewart said her farm had about an inch of snow overnight.

There was snow right down to sea level, she said.

"It's very pretty, the sun is just making its way through the massive cloud down toward the east over the beach, so it's quite magical really."

Sheep farmers who were still lambing might have some worries, she said.

Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins told Morning Report there was "plenty of snow" in the town belt and and the message for people was to stay at home if they could, especially in the hill suburbs.

"We're not through this blast yet so the less traffic we can see on the roads this morning the safer we'll all be."

Clyde Orchard manager Kris Robb said it was a busy night for Otago orchardists preparing for the polar blast that has brought snow

There was a lot of maintenance including checking double-checking fuel levels on wind machines and ensuring frost detection measures were in place, he said.

"The fruit's at a really vulnerable stage at the moment.

"The apricots are probably at their most vulnerable, where they're just really small, green fruit, so they've got no protection from leaves or flowers or anything like that.

"The peaches and nectarines aren't too far behind them and the cherries are just starting to come out in flower now, so a severe frost could damage our crop."

Te Anau blanketed in snow

Snow has eased in Te Anau, but the town remains covered in a blanket of white powder.

Paul Jonson is in Southland for the Te Anau Ukulele Festival which begins tomorrow.

He said the snow was a beautiful sight.

"We are sitting on the lakefront looking out over the mountains all dusted in snow, it is absolutely heavenly, the whole lake shore is all covered in snow down to the water and the flowers and plants are all weeping with snow, it is just a magic place."

It had stopped snowing in Manapouri and Te Anau this morning and was clearing up to be a beautiful day, he said.

The snow has also hit Rakiura/Stewart Island and one of its residents, Ken McAnergney said the bad weather was coming in in waves.

"Huge stormy fronts coming through with lots of wind and lots of snow."

There was just under 0.5cm of snow on his deck but at this stage the nearby road looked clear, he said.

Wellington

Wellington commuters will have some obstacles this morning with the cold surge affecting transport plans.

Metlink had replaced trains with buses this week for planned maintenance, and on top of that, snow on Remutaka Hill Road will now affect buses taking that route.

Travelling as usual were today's 6.47am train service from Masterton and the afternoon services from Wellington back to Masterton at 4.25pm, 5.30pm and 6.18pm would operate as normal - but the usual services in-between those times would not be operating today.

Metlink general manager Samantha Gain said those not operating would usually be replaced by buses.

"At the moment because of work on the line and because of the unknown conditions on the Remutaka Hill Road we decided not to run those for safety reasons."

A snowfall warning will be in place on Remutaka Road until this afternoon.

MetService has warned the freezing temperatures could cause stress for livestock, putting pressure on farmers to make sure their animals are safe.

Overnight thunderstorms and hail made their way over the capital.

Taranaki

There has also been snowfall in Stratford.

Stratford District Council reported in a social media post that Manaia and Pembroke roads were closed at the national park gates.

Crew were working to open them at some point today, but the council asked people to wait until it was confirmed that they were open before heading up there.