Big seas pound the west, snow expected to near sea level

Saturday, 3 August 2019

Snow has fallen in many mountain areas in recent days, and could be falling to near sea level in the deep south on Sunday. The picture shows Mt Dobson.

A front moving up the South Island from Saturday afternoon will see freezing levels drop with snow falling to low levels.

Big seas were also pounding the west of the country, with a pulse of big waves moving north along the west coast of the North Island on Saturday. Waves had been recorded with heights of up to 10 metres.

'So by tonight we're looking at some snow showers down to about 100-200 metres for the Southland, Clutha area and southern parts of Otago and Fiordland,' MetService meteorologist Curtis Hayes said.

'Then behind that feature tomorrow, we have the snow level dropping to near sea level for those same areas.'

* Antarctic air arriving Saturday night may bring sea level snow for south

* Warning as waves up to 10 metres high threaten Coast; snow and gales to strike**

Invercargill was forecast to start Sunday with showers, which would become sleety during the morning, turning to snow showers by evening. A high of just 4 degrees Celsius was forecast.

MetService said 15-20cm of snow was expected to accumulate above 100m between 6pm Saturday and 1pm Monday. Areas affected were Southland, including Stewart Island, Clutha district, and much of Fiordland. Snow was expected to be deeper at higher levels, and drifts were also expected.

'Please note, snow is expected to affect many roads and passes causing significant disruption to transport, essential services and may cause stress to livestock,' MetService said.

Some snow could also fall to 100m from late Saturday through to Monday in southern Central Otago and the Southern Lakes. Snow could fall on Sunday afternoon into the night down to 200m in southern Marlborough and north Canterbury, and down to 300m in Nelson Lakes, Buller, northern Westland and Kahurangi National Park.

In its monthly outlook, published on Saturday, MetService said it was expecting 'wild westerlies for August'.

'A wet August for the West Coast, as well as for Waikato to Wellington. A cold August for Otago, Southland, the Southern Lakes and Canterbury High Country,' it said.

August was traditionally an unsettled and rather wet time of year, with frequent fronts passing over the country.

The Lewis Pass was closed by snow, the NZ Transport Agency said. Also closed was the Milford road - SH94 from Te Anau to Milford from Hollyford junction to the Chasm.

Drivers were also being urged to take extra care because of snow on some other high routes, including the Desert Road.

Strong wind warnings were issued for highways throughout Southland, and in central and northern parts of east Otago.

Queenstown Lakes District Council said the Crown Range Road had reopened after no significant snow fell overnight, but temperatures were below freezing at the summit and all vehicles needed to carry chains.

It was also below freezing through the cardrona Valley, where there was black ice on Friday morning and ice remained a factor. It was the same story in the Wakatipu Basin.