Snow down to 300m forecast
Cold snap: Farmers warned
FARMERS are being warned to shelter stock and motorists are urged to take great care on southern roads, after the MetService upgraded its forecasts to show heavy snow is likely to hit Otago and Southland tonight.
MetService meteorologist Claire Flynn said from 9pm rain was expected to turn to snow which may accumulate down to 300m, affecting some hill suburbs in Dunedin.
Between 5cm and 10cm would accumulate above 400m and significantly greater amounts were likely above 600m.
Queenstown and Wanaka could have snow to lakelevel, and places like Naseby were likely to get heavy snow.
Miss Flynn said it would be wise for farmers to move stock to sheltered areas, and for drivers to take extra care on the roads.
‘‘You’ll certainly be able to see it on the hills around Dunedin when the weather clears.’’
Temperatures reached 19degC in parts of the region yesterday but were expected to plummet as low as 1degC today.
She said the change was caused by a lowpressure system in the Tasman Sea and a strong cold front from the Southern Ocean.
It would bring severe weather to much of the country over the coming days.
Federated Farmers Otago president Phill Hunt said the cold snap would be an issue for farmers who had ‘‘freshly shorn’’ stock, and they should be moved to more sheltered paddocks.
He said farmers would be keeping a close eye on the weather, in case it deteriorated further, but for most, the southerly blast was more of a gentle reminder that winter was just around the corner.
‘‘Most farmers won’t be particularly concerned about the weather.
‘‘Snow doesn’t tend to last long at this time of year.’’
Rain was expected to turn to snow tonight, and 10cm to 15cm may accumulate at high levels, with lesser amounts down to 300m, on the Lindis Pass (State Highway 8), the Crown Range and the Milford road (SH94).
Between 1cm and 3cm may accumulate above 300m on the Northern Motorway from Dunedin to Waitati (SH1) during the same time frame.
Sea conditions along the Southland and Otago coastlines were also forecast to be ‘‘rough’’ tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday, with winds rising to 35 knots at times.
A Dunedin City Council spokesman said grit trucks, sweepers and graders were on standby in case streets in higheraltitude suburbs were affected by snow.