Heavy snow to blanket much of South Island as cold front rolls through

Snow is forecast to be falling to 100m in Canterbury, Otago and Southland by Sunday evening, as strong cold southerleasterly winds move up the South Island during the day, and over the North Island on Monday.

MetService reported snow had started falling on the Crown Range Road about 9am Sunday. It warned of a chance of heavy snow above 300m in Southland and Otago through Sunday.

The heaviest snow was forecast for inland Canterbury, with MetService issuing a warning for up to 25cm of snow above 300m in that area for the 25 hours from 1pm Sunday.

MetService also warned that up to 20cm could fall above 400m in Marlborough south of Ward during Monday, starting as early as 1am.

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The north of the country will stay warm during Sunday, but northwesterly winds could be strong and some rain is forecast from Waikato and Bay of Plenty north.

An extensive list of road snowfall warnings issued for the South Island included the possibility of 2-4cm settling above 200m on the Dunedin to Waitati Highway through to 2pm Sunday.

Snow could also be falling to early afternoon Sunday on the Crown Range Road, mid-afternoon on Haast Pass, and early Monday on the Lindis Pass.

As much as 40cm could fall from Sunday afternoon and through Monday on Porters Pass, up to 35cm on Arthur’s Pass, and starting Sunday evening up to 20cm on Lewis Pass.

“A very cold south to southeast flow spreads north over the South Island today (Sunday), bringing snow to low levels to many areas of the South Island,” MetService said.

“Additionally, strong east to southeast winds are expected to spread north behind the front.” Strong wind watches had been issued for Fiordland, Westland and Marlborough.

The cold front due to move up the South Island was over Southland about 7am Sunday then was expected in Christchurch about 3pm and Wellington late on Sunday night, MetService meteorologist David Miller said.

Christchurch’s Port Hills could expect some snow.

MetService said heavy snow was expected to affect areas south of the Rangitata River from Sunday afternoon then spread further north late afternoon to evening.

“Note that lesser amounts of disruptive snow could affect areas below 300m in Canterbury but warning amounts are considered unlikely there.”

Periods of heavy snow down to low levels were forecast for Otago and Southland during Sunday, with a chance snow amounts may approach warning criteria above 200m.

Road snowfall warnings were issued, starting Sunday morning, for the Dunedin to Waitati Highway, Milford Road, the Crown Range Road and Haast Pass.

Snow could fall to 500m in Kaikōura on Monday and Tuesday. Wellington was not expected to have any snow except for the chance of some on the Tararua Range peaks.

Invercargill, Queenstown, and Wānaka were expected to drop to -1C on Sunday night, while Christchurch was expected to drop to 1C and Wellington to 6C, after a day when the temperature was expected to reach a 15C high before the front arrived in the capital.

The cold front was also bringing rains as it passed over.

SH87 from Outram to Kyeburn was closed to towing vehicles from about 10am Sunday, with Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency warning chains were essential on the route.

Drivers were also advised to take care due to snow and ice on SH6 from Kingston to Lumsden, and SH94 from Lumsden to Te Anau.