South blanketed
Snowfalls and icy temperatures across Canterbury are still making roads treacherous and disrupting travel.
By last night, snow had fallen to sea level in southern parts of the South Island, to low levels in other parts of the island, and had spread to some areas of the North Island.
High country stations were facing up to 30 centimetres of snow. MetService has forecast snow to continue in parts of Canterbury until late this afternoon, with higher altitudes likely to get 20 to 30cm of coverage.
Kaikoura remained cut off overnight by both inland and coastal road closures.
White-out conditions on State Highway 7, near the Hanmer Springs turnoff, saw the Lewis Pass closed in the early evening.
School holidays freed principals in inland and high altitude areas from making decisions about closing, leaving children free to enjoy the snow.
Police were kept busy around the region with vehicle mishaps. At least 10 crashes have been reported on State Highway 8 in South Canterbury since the storms arrived.
Constable Brad Morton, of Tekapo, said some people were driving too fast for the conditions and did not have chains fitted.
‘‘It is disappointing when people don’t use common sense.’’
He said some had probably never
driven in the area before. ‘‘All the same, it’s still frustrating.’’ MetService meteorologist Tom Adams said more southerly winds were expected to batter the Canterbury high country.
Strong southerlies with wind gusts of up to 110kmh would ‘‘stick around’’ through today before easing early tomorrow.
He said the frequency of the snow showers would ‘‘become further apart but they will still be heavy throughout the next couple of days’’.
Flights both in and out of Christchurch Airport were delayed by the snow and sleet. Both Air New Zealand and Jetstar had flights affected.
The NZ Transport Agency advised motorists where roads were snowy or icy to stay at home and avoid sightseeing.
‘‘The roads are treacherous in many parts of the South Island,’’ the agency warned yesterday.
Meanwhile, despite Canterbury households needing to use more electricity to keep warm, the snowfalls could have a positive spinoff for power prices.
University of Auckland Associate electrical engineering professor Nirmal Nair said heavy snowfall could ‘‘marginally improve’’ hydro lake levels, but people would have to ‘‘wait and watch’’ if it would ‘‘translate’’ into anything.
‘‘In a broader sense it’s good news, ice and snow melts’’, which would contribute to the natural water cycle, he said.