Heavy snow for South, rain, wind and cold for many
Friday, 31 May 2019
MetService is warning of heavy snow in the South Island as cold stormy weather passes over the country.
A broad trough, with embedded fronts, was moving across New Zealand, the forecaster said, bringing cold and wet conditions to many areas.
A trough, preceded by strong northwesterlies, was expected to move onto central New Zealand from the Tasman Sea late on Friday afternoon to evening, then cross the country during Saturday, the forecaster said.
An associated low should move east across the upper South Island tonight and move to the east of the North Island late Saturday, bringing cold and strong southerlies to many parts of New Zealand.
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'Significant' snow was forecast to fall in the Kaikoura Ranges as well as the Canterbury high country and foothills to 300 metres on Saturday, MetService said, while snowfall was expected in the mountain passes on Friday night through to Saturday.
The amount of snow expected was likely to disrupt travel and could damage infrastructure such as power lines, the forecaster said.
Gales were also on the cards for many, with a strong wind watch issued for Wellington, Wairarapa, Hawke's Bay south of Hastings, south of Whanganui, as well as Banks Peninsula and about the Kaikoura coast.
A heavy rain band which had caused heavy falls over Auckland had moved east, sparking downpours in Whakatane.
COLD FRIDAY
A front passing over Auckland with rain mid-morning dropped the temperature in the city by 4 degrees Celsius to 13.3C. The city was not forecast to top 14C on Saturday and 13C on Sunday.
In the South Island, Invercargill started the day as the coldest place in the country, on slightly above 2C, while Queenstown shivered on 3.7C shortly after 8.30am on Friday. The ski resort was sitting on a chilly 7C shortly before midday Friday.
The New Zealand Transport Agency advised motorists to take extra care on the roads on Friday because of the weather.
'Please drive to the conditions,' it said.
On the West Coast of the South Island, State Highway 6 at Inangahua Junction reopened early Friday morning after closing when the Buller River reached its alarm level on Thursday evening.
Early Friday, NZTA had a flood warning on SH6 from Haast to Lake Hawea and from Ross to Haast, and on SH73 from Otira to Jacksons. There was also a flood warning for SH6 from Hira to Renwick at the top of the South Island,
There were wind warnings for SH87 from Outram to Kyeburn and Outram to Kyeburn, SH73 from Arthur's Pass to Otira and from Springfield to Arthur's Pass, SH7 from Hanmer turnoff to Springs Junction over the Lewis Pass
Buller Electricity said on Thursday night that Karamea was being fed from generator power.
NZTA also had strong wind warnings in place for Remutaka Hill.