Snow f lurries for city

City dwellers risk being caught in snow flurries on their earlymorning commute, while it may cause havoc for farmers and motorists in Canterbury’s high country this week.

Forecasters say a cold front within a larger trough of low pressure will bring severe southerly gales, plummeting temperatures, rain and snow to sea level late today.

The wild weather forced the NZ Transport Agency to close State Highway 1 north and south of Kaiko¯ ura from 6pm yesterday to 9.30am today, though this time frame could be extended.

Drivers travelling between Christchurch and Picton will have to go over the Lewis Pass, while those getting in or out of Kaiko¯ura will need to use the inland route to Waiau.

The cold weather could cause trouble for motorists travelling through Christchurch’s Port Hills and over some of the South Island’s alpine passes – particularly Arthur’s Pass and Lewis Pass, where several centimetres of snow could settle, Blue Skies forecaster Tony Trewinnard said.

About 1cm to 3cm of snow is also expected on the Lindis Pass tonight. Up to 20 millimetres of rain is expected to fall over Canterbury, and a decent blanket of snow may accumulate in areas above 300 metres tomorrow, including up to 20cm on Banks Peninsula. ‘‘It could drop to near sea level . . . It shouldn’t accumulate on the ground in Christchurch, but you might see some snow and sleet falling,’’ Trewinnard said.

He warned of a ‘‘pretty rough period’’ from today through to Thursday evening, but said the front was unpredictable.