Rug up—the big freeze is set to worsen
Record low temperatures as ice cold weather moves up the country. By Jamie Small.
The worst weather is ‘‘yet to come’’ in the North Island as more snow, rain and freezing air bears down on the country.
The light switch to the whole of the Hawke’s Bay region was flicked off twice in the past two days, as heavy dumps of snow – up to 50 centimetres – blanketed the region.
At least 10,000 homes were without power after the first cut at 3.30am yesterday, and again at 10.30am.
Supermarkets were also forced to close their doors, and state highways were closed, but it was back to business as usual by late afternoon for most of the region.
But several homes in the Taupo region were without power last night, and as the weather moves north more power cuts are expected.
While the wet and icy conditions were an unwelcome guest in the North Island, there were several smiling faces as the fresh snow fell in South Canterbury.
Children in Fairlie, near Timaru competed in snowball fights and snowman building competitions.
Today, the weather is set to get worse with heavy snow expected in the Taupo region and Taihape, and Gisborne and the Tararua district.
‘‘Poor old Hawke’s Bay,’’ Met-Service meteorologist Peter Little said.
‘‘We’re forecasting a lot of snow. We’re expecting the rain to continue through to tomorrow [Sunday] morning.
"Unfortunately it’s going to be very, very wet. It’s already causing problems. ‘‘The worst is yet to come.’’ Snow drifts of more than one metre were possible in places, Little said, and accumulations of 50-80cm could occur above 700 metres.
‘‘It’s a huge amount of snow for that area. It’s quite rare,’’ he said.
‘‘They don’t often get more than a few centimetres.’’
Philip Duncan, head weather analyst at WeatherWatch.co.nz said heavy snow and rain would continue in Hawke’s Bay tonight.
There was a possibility of snow falling in or very near Taupo town centre.
‘‘Hurricane force winds remain around Mt Ruapehu tonight but gradually ease,’’ he said.
The ‘‘polar southerlies are now moving into Auckland,’’ he added.
Hawke’s Bay lines company Unison warned the impact of snow build-up on transmission lines meant further cuts over the weekend, and warned people to be prepared.
The NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) has urged motorists to take care in wet and icy conditions.
More snow was also forecast in the South Island, mostly in inland Canterbury and the Kaikoura coast, after big dumps in elevated areas of Canterbury overnight, including Methven, Mt Somers and Lake Tekapo.
However, the Banks Peninsula had blocked much of the snow from falling in Christchurch city.
Temperatures could reach their coldest in parts of the south since 1972 and Queenstown could break its all-time August winter low since records began in 1871.
Roads closed in the South Island on Saturday morning were later opened up, but NZTA advised caution on many Canterbury and Otago roads, especially mountain passes.
Intermittent snow could also affect driving conditions around Kaikoura.
Little said severe weather warnings had been lifted for much of Canterbury, but remained in place for the hills and ranges around Kaikoura.
Conditions would gradually clear as a high pressure system built across the South Island, he said.
‘‘Waking up tomorrow [Sunday] morning, it’s going to be pretty chilly going down to minus three, then down to about minus four on Monday morning.’’