Snow, ice and flooding are just some of the hazards South Island motorists need to watch out for this morning.
Photo: 123rf
Snow on Porters Pass means it is closed to towing vehicles and chains are required for everybody else.
Drivers are asked to watch out for road crews as they clear snow and lay grit.
Caution is required in the Mackenzie basin and North Otago due to ice.
Plenty of snow Watches & Warnings in force, starting over the far south this evening. The cold front responsible for lowering snow levels will also bring a face-numbingly strong southerly change to eastern coasts as it surges north during Wednesday https://t.co/qHyE5zhh6X ^AC pic.twitter.com/72W9Z2afmX
— MetService (@MetService) July 6, 2020
The MetService has issued road snowfall warnings for Lewis, Arthur's and Porters Passes, Crown Range Road, Milford Road (SH94) and the Dunedin to Waitati Highway (SH1).
And in Southland there is flooding on some roads with speed restrictions in place.
Meanwhile in the North Island, the Transport Agency is urging drivers to watch out for icy conditions and snow on the Desert Road in the central North Island today.
While snow isn't expected in populated areas north of Taihape, strong southwesterlies & localised thunderstorms means the upper North Island is forecast it's own share of stormy weather tomorrow. For details find our meteorologist written forecasts at https://t.co/hnwmGxU1gR ^AC pic.twitter.com/3SIqe3RNh9
— MetService (@MetService) July 7, 2020
MetService is predicting significant amounts of snow will fall on State Highway 1 between Waiōuru and Turangi from this afternoon.
People travelling on the Napier to Taupō Road should also prepare for wintry weather.
MetService also forecasts strong winds for the upper North Island including Northland, Auckland and Bay of Plenty, as well as Waikato and Waitomo saying winds may approach gale force in exposed places at times.
