Desert Rd closed by snow as icy blast continues for second day across New Zealand
The Remutaka Hill Rd has reopened though others around the country remain closed due to snow and icy conditions.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said the Wairarapa road closed after more snowfall near the summit this morning.
It reopened at 5.30am but closed again soon after.
It has now reopened as of 11.20am.
“Road crews have worked hard to restore the route to ensure the highway can reopen safely,” NZTA said.
While the weather had improved, the highway was still affected by residual snow and ice, and drivers were encouraged to drive to the conditions.
The Desert Rd remained closed this morning because of icy winter conditions after shutting about 12 hours earlier when two trucks crashed, NZTA said.
The crash is cleared but the road will be closed until conditions approve.
Motorists are advised to detour between Waiouru and Rangipō via SH49, SH4 and SH47 or SH46 and allow extra time for their journey.
Rangitīkei District Council also warned the Taihape-Napier road has been closed until further notice.
“An inspection of the road will take place after 12pm today, with the hope of reopening the road this afternoon. However, more icy and cold conditions are expected tonight,” the council said.
A polar blast brought snow and travel chaos to much of the South Island yesterday, with police asking people in Dunedin to avoid travelling unless absolutely necessary, while Wellington workers recorded flurries from their windows.
MetService meteorologist John Law said New Zealanders should expect a cold and frosty morning across the country, particularly for inland parts of the South Island.
“We’re probably going to see some of our colder temperatures down through there, but even up through parts of Waikato and up into parts of Auckland, it’ll be a cold and frosty start,” Law said.
“For the places in the east, so for everywhere from North Canterbury, Marlborough and up towards Wellington and Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay, we’ve still got some sleety showers possible to start the morning, more especially up about the higher ground and over the higher ground of Marlborough, but it will be a case of some showers to clear for the first part of the day.”
However, Law expected the skies to clear with the showers to be confined more to the eastern coast, with dry, bright and clear conditions forecast for the western coast.
The main concern, he said, was the temperature this evening into tomorrow.
“Looking at some of the forecast temperatures, that’s going to be a colder night again.
“So, for the very first part of the day on Thursday, that’s going to be cold and pretty frosty with some severe frost in spots as well.”
The lower risk of snow throughout the day doesn’t mean there will be too much of an increase in temperature, with more northern areas of the country expected to feel chilly despite having some of the highest thermometer readings.
Law said places such as Kerikeri and Kaitāia will get highs of 12C-13C, but overnight lows of just 2C.“It’s going to be really cold even in places like Northland, which generally tends to be one of the warmer spots”.
Parts of Auckland will get down to just 1C, which he said was “possibly the coldest of the year so far, so even in those spots which we normally consider avoiding the coldest of the temperatures, we’ll find it’s a cold and frosty one”.
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