Snow, hail hit south
Snow, rain and cold winds are forecast to continue blighting spring today, after unseasonal weather pelted much of the South Island yesterday.
Southerlies brought hail and snow across the island and temperatures turned icy yesterday. Conditions are expected to only slightly improve today.
The MetService forecast possible snow on the Canterbury mountain passes later today to follow yesterday’s snowfalls, and forecast cold temperatures and rain for Christchurch and the Canterbury plains.
MetService severe weather forecaster Andy Downs said midNovember snow was ‘‘unusual, but not unprecedented’’.
Yesterday’s wintry conditions were caused by a strong, cold southerly airstream moving across the island. Temperatures hovered in single digits in many parts of the
South Island, including Christchurch and Dunedin.
Snow accumulated on mountain passes. Dunedin was pelted with hail during the day. Dunedin man Martin Milner captured photos of a hailstorm breaking over Otago Harbour yesterday morning.
In Marlborough temperatures dropped sharply about lunchtime and motorists travelling between Picton and Blenheim on SH1 were forced to drop their speed as a hail storm swept through.
Meteorologists said an ‘‘unusually’’ cold pool of air was to blame. Thunderstorms could bring more hail to Marlborough today.
Further south, State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound, and the Crown Range between Queenstown and Wanaka were closed for short periods.
Several domestic flights in and out of Queenstown Airport were cancelled yesterday morning, and some tourists enjoyed the novelty of snow in November.
James Roots, holidaying in Queenstown from Queensland, Australia, said he had never seen snow before.
‘‘I didn’t think there was going to be snow like this . . . it’s pretty out of control if you ask me.’’
South Korean man Raymond Lee, 32, was not expecting snow in Queenstown as he biked around New Zealand.
‘‘This is my very first snowy weather when I am cycling . . . so I am just taking it very, very slow today.’’
Downs said the general weather set-up across the South Island was complex. Small lowpressure centres were swirling around each other to the east of the island, making it difficult to pinpoint how far north the wet and cold weather would move.
‘‘It’s pretty out of control if you ask me.’’
Visiting Aussie James Roots
Snow fell as low as 300 to 400 metres yesterday.
Freezing levels are expected to be higher today as a depression east of the South Island moves west, dragging more heavy, persistent rain with it and bringing slightly milder air.
Christchurch can expect cold south-westerlies bringing temperatures no higher than 13 degrees C, and rain, sometimes heavy, from late morning to early evening.
Snow warnings remain in place.
The MetService said snow could accumulate above 800 metres in the Canterbury high country this morning, and in parts of Otago and Fiordland.
More snow could settle on the Lewis, Arthurs, Porters and Lindis passes from this afternoon.
The unseasonal weather began with severe thunderstorms along the east coast of the South Island on Sunday, along with a substantial tornado in Mid-Canterbury.
Canterbury’s weather is forecast to begin improving tonight, with easterly winds bringing milder conditions.
Sun and temperatures in the mid-teens are forecast for eastern regions tomorrow.