❄️Weather updates❄️
Snow is falling in the lower South Island early Friday, with MetService warning it could be heavy in the southern Canterbury High Country and inland Otago, and also possibly northern Southland.
What's been happening:
- About 6.45am, Queenstown Lakes District Council said the Crown Range Road was closed by snow.
- Aurora Energy said power was out to about 3500 customers in Central Otago early Friday.
- State Highway 85 was closed between Omakau and Palmerston on Friday morning.
- State Highway 6 was closed by snow between Haast and Makarora on Friday morning. No detour was available and road users were advised to avoid the area.
- Remarkables has received 51cm of fresh snow in the last 48 hours.
- Coronet Peak had 30cm of fresh snow at the base and 80cm at the top of the mountain in the last 24 hours.
- Cardrona ski area is open with 29cm of new snow, and Treble Cone is open with about 48cm of new snow. Chains are required on all vehicles at both fields.
- In Canterbury, Mt Hutt has about 1-2cm of new snow and is expecting more today, while Ohau is expecting 20cm-30cm during the day.
- The road to Milford Sound remains closed on Friday morning after being closed all day on Thursday because of the weather.
- Queenstown Primary School and Dunstan High School are both closed due to weather.
What's in store:
- Snow was possible to 300 metres in Otago and Southland on Friday morning, and to 500m in southern Canterbury, MetService said.
- MetService has issued a heavy snow warning for the Canterbury High Country south of the Rakaia River through to 3pm Friday.
- There's also a heavy snow warning for inland Otago until noon.
- A heavy rain watch is in place for Westland south of Haast through to 7pm.
- Snow is also expected to fall on some other high routes in the South Island.
- "Please drive with caution as there are snow plough trucks operating along the highway from Te Anau to Milford Sound." NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi says avalanche hazard assessments are underway and it is likely that the road will reopen about 11am Friday, after road snow clearing.
- MetService is warning snow could affect Arthur’s Pass, Porters Pass, Lindis Pass and the Crown Range Road at times during Friday.
- Orbus bus depo in Queenstown was snowed in but buses are now underway with delays
❄️You can read more on Stuff, but feel free to share any further updates or photos of snow below!❄️
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A reminder to drive safer
Police are reminding motorists of the importance around following distances following a multi-vehicle crash on the Dunedin Southern Motorway yesterday.
Senior Sergeant Karl Hemmingsen, Otago Coastal Area Road Policing Manager, said Police responded to a three-vehicle crash on the Dunedin Southern Motorway at Fairfield around 8:20am this morning.
“Luckily, there were no serious injuries sustained in the crash, however it did create significant disruption for motorists, with a few people likely to be late for work this morning.
“The road has been cleared and since reopened; however, it is a good reminder of the impact sunstrike can have on our morning commutes this time of year.
“Police are asking motorists to keep their following distances in mind when driving to your destination, a larger gap between you and the car in front of you is often the difference in being able to safely stop, or crashing into the car in front of you, if they stop abruptly," Senior Sergeant Hemmingsen said.
This morning has already seen six crashes causing disruption to motorists across the Southern District, with variable conditions across the Southland, Otago Coastal and Otago Lakes areas.
This is an urgent reminder to pay close attention when driving on the roads, and drive to the conditions, increase following distances, slow down, and put your distractions away.
We want to see everyone getting to their destinations safely.
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