Cold snap: Snow falling in south, gales cut power in north

Snow on cars in Mornington, Dunedin, on Tuesday morning.
Photo: RNZ / Tim Brown

Snow has fallen in Christchurch and Dunedin, and is disrupting travel in both islands, while high winds have brought down power lines in the North.

Temperatures dropped overnight in the South Island as a blast of cold weather moved northwards bringing show showers to many areas.

Further south, State Highway 1 between Dunedin and Waitati is closed. SH87 is closed between Middlemarch and Outram.

Snow settled on cars in the Dunedin hill suburbs on Tuesday.
Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton

In Dunedin, driving was treacherous, buses in the hill suburbs were cancelled and schools started the day late. Police advised motorists to avoid travel in the city’s hill suburbs because of the icy conditions.

Snow on New Brighton beach, Christchurch, on Tuesday.
Photo: Supplied / Emma Derrick

Snow fell to sea level in New Brighton beach, coating the sand white after the dumping.

Snow is falling down to sea level in parts of north Canterbury, including Christchurch!

⛄ One of our meteorologists woke up to this view in Rolleston

❄ Make sure to follow any updates from @NZTA about roads that are closed or affected by snow

ℹ https://t.co/hnwmGxCYeR pic.twitter.com/29cxYyJAWZ

— MetService (@MetService) September 5, 2022

In the north, the Desert Road was closed between Waiouru and Rangipō, and the Napier-Taupō Road (SH5) was also shut.

There were snow flurries on Transmission Gully (SH1) north of Wellington, and also reported in the Wellington hill suburb of Brooklyn. Snow showers were expected on the Remutaka Hill Road between Wellington and Wairarapa until 10am.

Planes at Christchurch Airport were having to be de-iced, delaying some departures.
Photo: RNZ / Maree Mahony

MetService has forecast heavy rain and strong to gale force winds in Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, Taupō and Taihape.

CENTRAL NORTH ISLAND – ROADS CLOSED – 6:30AM
Due to snowfall overnight both #SH5 – between Taupo and Napier – and #SH1 (Desert Rd) between Rangipo and Waiouru – are CLOSED. Please delay your journey. https://t.co/QPPc6I0uKu ^TP pic.twitter.com/8GfnvL6gD6

— Waka Kotahi NZTA Waikato/BoP (@WakaKotahiWaiBP) September 5, 2022

Power cuts

Hundreds of people were without power in the North Island due to wild weather.

In Hawera, wind brought lines down, cutting power to 135 households.

In Morrinsville, 121 households were without power due to trees falling on lines.

Fallen trees also took out power lines on SH1 south of Kaitaia and about 500 people were without power.