Icy blast grips much of country
Hail and thunder hit Auckland, snow flurries fell on Christchurch’s Port Hills and sleet was reported in Dunedin as a freezing blast made its way up the country yesterday.
A large rain band ripped across the central North Island as the front moved over New Zealand, bringing thunderstorms to the north.
MetService spokesman Mark Bowe said Auckland, along with Taranaki and Tamaranui, were affected by thunderstorms during the day.
‘‘Since this morning, Auckland has been experiencing frequent heavy showers along with hail and strong wind gusts. More hail is expected for Auckland but it should ease by evening,’’ Bowe said yesterday.
Residents of Auckland’s North Shore also reported thunder and heavy rain.
One woman said on Facebook that the ‘‘windows on my house were shaking’’.
The cold snap had earlier caused the closure of the Desert Road and Lewis Pass, among other highways. All except the Desert Road had reopened by late afternoon.
Snow flurries fell on Christchurch’s Port Hills, with MetService earlier saying that snow could be possible down to 400 metres in the city.
The snow settled on the hills in Banks Peninsula, prompting a warning that falls were affecting the Summit Rd above 300m there.
Sleet fell in Dunedin as temperatures hovered in the low single digits. Snow caused some disruption in suburban Brockville, about 300m above sea level.
Snow was also visible on the southern city’s Northern Motorway but had caused no delays or closures.
Police urged motorists to drive to the conditions. Flights to and from Dunedin were unaffected, while city bus routes were operating as normal.
MetService forecaster Nick Zacher said the ‘‘main event’’ of the front passing up the country was a band of heavier showers just ahead and just behind as it moved north.
‘‘That’s going to help initiate another round of snow fall across the Desert Road,’’ Zacher said.
A ridge of high pressure building over New Zealand, is expected to bring clear skies and light winds today.