Drivers urged to adjust to icy roads
into the negatives last night.
The Met Service predicted it would hit -4 degrees overnight, and heavy frosts would ensue.
Last night police issued warnings for those motorists on the roads.
Canterbury police urged drivers to adapt to the wintry conditions.
Senior Sergeant Phil Newton, of Canterbury Highway Patrol said the combination of the predicted heavy frosts and snow down to low levels was dangerous.
‘‘That’s going to make many roads across the district treacherous, and will dramatically increase the risks of drivers having a crash - especially if they have a lapse in concentration,’’ he said.
Newton said the biggest factor in the winter road toll was motorists failing to drive to the conditions.
Meanwhile the region seemed to have avoided the worst of the bad weather.
Snow hit southern parts of the South Island yesterday and had been predicted for South Canterbury. However, the region only saw a smattering of snow on the Hunter Hills near Waimate. Police are warning drivers to adapt to icy roads this morning and tonight as winter bites.
Snow in the South Island cancelled flights in and out of Queenstown, closed roads and schools in Otago and left about 260 households without power. There were snow flurries about Banks Peninsula and snow was visible on the Port Hills.
MetService meteorologist Elke Louw said parts of the South Island would be set for a chilly start this morning, with a low of minus 9 degrees Celsius expected for Twizel. Christchurch would be slightly warmer on minus 5deg in the morning, with Ashburton on minus 3deg.
Temperatures would remain low during the day, Louw said, with highs of about 10deg across the region.
Police warned drivers to keep a close eye on road conditions, with frosts and snow possible in Canterbury.
Senior Sergeant Phil Newton, of Canterbury Highway Patrol, said heavy frosts were possible this morning and tonight.
‘‘That’s going to make many roads across the district treacherous, and will dramatically increase the risks of drivers having a crash – especially if they have a lapse in concentration,’’ he said. ‘‘Our most important message to all drivers is to slow down whenever the weather turns bad.’’
Newton recommended drivers increase following distances, clear ice and condensation from windscreens and check tyres, brakes, lights and windscreen wipers.
Drivers on the mountain passes should carry chains.
Arthur’s Pass and Haast Pass were both reopened yesterday after slips closed them last week.
A ‘‘massive slip’’ about one kilometre west of the Otira township closed Arthur’s Pass on Friday. NZ Transport Agency senior network manager Mark Pinner said the road was expected to remain open overnight.
Single-lane access through the area was opened at about midday yesterday. Traffic through the area was being controlled and limited to 30kmh.
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) data shows the coldest temperature recorded in Christchurch during May last year was minus 2.8deg, recorded near the airport on May 30.