Desert Road closed due to 'icy conditions', snowfall closes highways in the south

Apr 04, 2024

A wintry snap which has caused snow disruptions in the South Island has now reached the north with “icy conditions” closing the Desert Road.

A police spokesperson said Desert Road (SH1) is closed due to icy conditions. “Motorists are advised to avoid the area and expect delays. Diversions are in place.”

MetService earlier warned of a chance of snow on the major highway on Sunday afternoon as strong winds caused Auckland’s Harbour Bridge to drop its speed limit again.

The city has been having a squally, blustery day, with similar conditions forecast for Monday.

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Meanwhile, in the south, cars were trapped on an Otago highway as heavy snow falls blanketed the area, forcing at least two roads to close near Dunedin.

Vehicles were stuck on the Manuka Gorge Highway (SH8) in Otago, police said. Earlier in the day, a tow truck had to winch out a truck from the same stretch of road.

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Stuff reader Tim Reece​ emailed in to say he was stuck trying to get to Invercargill on SH1 and had been at a standstill for an hour with 10 cars in front of him and around 30 behind.

“This is literally horrible,” he said.

Gore District Council said snow was up to 20cm deep on some roads in that area.

Drivers were urged to take extra care on hilly roads in and around Dunedin and elsewhere in Otago due to the icy conditions.

In Otago, SH87 Kyeburn to Outram was closed due to snow and ice as of Sunday evening, with SH93 from Clinton to Mataura in Southland also closed.

The Milford road – SH94 Te Anau to Milford – was closed due to snow and ice.

Snow has been falling at higher elevations in Canterbury, allowing Mt Hutt skifield to reopen after a frustrating two-week shutdown.

MetService had a heavy snow warning through to 1am Monday for Southland and for Otago south of a line from Queenstown to Alexandra and Mosgiel.

Periods of heavy snow were expected above 300m, with smaller falls lower down.

Snow could fall to 200m during Sunday evening in Otago, Southland and Fiordland.

Snow was also predicted on Sunday to about 600m in Buller and Westland.

Snowfalls had been forecast to 900m in the North Island Central Plateau from Sunday afternoon.

On Sunday morning, The Remarkables Ski Area reported 12cm of snow in the past 24 hours. Snow flurries were expected on and off during the day, and it would be cold.

Winds were expected to be strong for a time on Monday in the North Island, excluding eastern Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, and the Wellington region. In the South Island, strong winds were forecast for a time on Monday in the upper and lower South Island.

“The whole country is under that cold southwesterly flow and that’s set to stay over New Zealand,” MetService metrologist David Miller said.

While it would not snow continuously in the lower South Island, there would be a “long, long” period where people could expect snow showers, Miller said.

”There’s going to be periods of showers, some heavy at times. Snow is going to be getting pretty low, to about 100 metres, maybe a little lower.”