A snow plough at work on Milford Road in Otago. Photo: Suppled / Waka Kotahi
Recap: Gales and heavy snow are battering many parts of Aotearoa with severe weather watches in force for both islands.
MetService has lifted Orange strong wind warnings for all areas. The decision for North Otago, Dunedin and Clutha took effect at 11am today.
Strong wind watches are in place for Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Coastal Marlborough, Wellington, Wairarapa, the Chatham Islands, and Banks Peninsula. Wind watches for Hawke's Bay and Gisborne ended at 11am.
Heavy snow watches have been issued for Taihape, Whanganui, Manawatū, Wairapapa, and the lower South Island.
MetService says snow is expected down to 200 metres and could be heavy at times above 300 metres in the lower South Island.
Recap RNZ's blog for all that happened today: