Many Kiwis woke up to a dusting of snow as the South Island and Wellington experience October snowfall for the first time in decades.
Temperatures remain at single digits across the South Island and are not expected to climb much higher on Thursday.
Snow had settled at sea level in some parts of Christchurch - the last time this happened in October was 53 years ago. Many snow warnings and watches remained in place for the South Island.
Snow has also settled further north in Wellington, with some parts of the region experiencing snowfall for the first time in more than a decade.
Snow had also covered parts of Dunedin at low levels.
What you need to know:
- Parts of the South Island and Wellington have woken to snow
- Weather warnings and watches are in place across the country
- Several State Highways are closed and Waka Kotahi is advising motorists to expect winter driving conditions
- Some flights have been cancelled
- Some schools in Otago have been closed for the day
These live updates have now finished.
11:35am - Snow is bringing disruption to Dunedin.
The Dunedin City Council's (DCC) kerbside collection services (scheduled for Mosgiel, Abbotsford and Fairfield) have been cancelled for safety reasons, and these areas will now be collected on Saturday instead. The Green Island Landfill remains open.
The city libraries, Moana Pool, Port Chalmers Pool and the St Clair Hot Salt Water Pool are all due to open at 12pm. The council's cultural facilities are also expected to reopen this afternoon.
The elections office at the DCC Civic Centre remains open today for people wanting to hand-deliver completed voting papers and for special voting, but will now close at 5pm because of the conditions.
Driving conditions remain treacherous and Three Mill Hill, Mount Cargill and Blueskin roads all remain closed.
DCC contractors are using ploughs, graders and broom trucks to clear snow in the hill suburbs and rural areas and working to get closed roads reopened.
11:05am - SAFE is urging farmers to take urgent action for newborn lambs hammered by polar blasts.
"Every year, lambs born in the late winter and spring are caught out in the cold by icy blasts," SAFE head of investigations Will Appelbe said.
"While this weather event is unique, severe weather events like this are likely to become more common as climate change worsens."
SAFE is calling for farmer practices to change, including better shelter to protect animals from the elements.
11:00am - Snowwoman chilling in Central Otago.
10:50am - Power has been restored in Wānaka, Lindis Crossing, Queensberry, Cardrona, Camphill and Lake Hawea.
10:45am - Snow and ice update around Te Waipounamu South Island this morning:
Canterbury/West Coast
The Banks Peninsula route, SH75, Little River to Barry's Bay has reopened.
The alpine passes, Arthur's (SH73) and Lewis (SH7), are both open but chains are needed.
SH8 Fairlie to Lake Tekapo and Timaru is open.
Otago
- SH8 The Lindis Pass, Tarras to Omarama – open but care needed due to snow and ice.
- SH83 Pukeuri to Omarama – open but care needed due to snow and ice.
- SH8 Cromwell to Tarras – open but care needed due to snow and ice.
- SH6 Cromwell to Kingston – open with snow and ice. Grit applied but watch bridges and shady spots. Heavy snow around Kingston and further south.
- SH85 Kyeburn to Palmerston north of Dunedin – closed – next update midday.
- SH87 Kyeburn to Outram – closed, next update midday.
- SH 85 Kyeburn to Alexandra snow, ice and grit. Watch bridge decks and shady spots.
- SH8 Alexandra to Roxburgh – Open after being closed earlier, please take extreme care, grit and ice present.
- SH6 Kawarau Gorge to Gibbston – black ice, care needed.
- SH1 Dunedin north to Palmerston – closed, next update midday.
Southland
- SH1 eastern areas - black ice is still present.
- SH6 Dipton to Five Rivers - drive with caution.
- SH6 Five Rivers to Kingston – reopened after 10.20 am today, care needed.
- SH93 – Clinton to Mataura – closed.
- SH94 Mossburn to Te Anau - heavy snow persists, road clear but expect ice.
- SH96 Winton to Mataura - black ice, drive with caution.
- SH96 Nightcaps to Ohai - closed to towing vehicles, open with caution for general traffic.
10:35am - There may not be snow in Auckland but there are strong south-westerlies.
Due to strong wind gusts, reduced speed limits are in place on Auckland Harbour Bridge.
Waka Kotahi said lane reductions may be required and motorists are advised to drive cautiously.
10:20am - There are power outages in Wānaka, Lindis Crossing, Queensberry, Cardrona, Camphill and Lake Hawea areas.
Aurora Energy expects power to be back on at midday.
10:15am - While it has been an unusually cold October day around the South, MetService is forecasting average October temperatures this weekend.
A ridge of high pressure should bring mostly settled weather to New Zealand on Friday and Saturday.
On Sunday, a front is expected to approach the lower South Island, bringing rain and northwest gales to exposed areas with rain possibly reaching warning criteria in Fiordland.
10:00am - Clutha District Council is advising people to only drive if they have to because of widespread snow across the district.
"The usual high-altitude roads have a very thick covering of snow and there is a good amount of snow in West Otago, Hillend and Waipori," the council said.
"Roads in high-altitude areas (Waipori, Wilden/Switzers, Hillend) should be treated as closed until further notice as it will take time for roading crews to get out and assess the situation."
The council's contractor is out monitoring road conditions, but it will take time to get around the whole district.
Gore District Council said their roading team has been out early and all local roads are open, however many are affected by snow and ice.
They have had grit trucks spreading grit on some streets and the Gore bridge.
9:45am - State Highway 8 from Roxburgh to Alexandra is now fully open. However, some other Otago and Southland roads remain closed due to snow.
9:40am - Schools across Otago have either been closed for the day or their start times have been delayed due to the weather.
Otago Primary Principals' Association said all primary and intermediate schools and DKA kindergarten between Mosgiel to Port Chalmers to Waikouaiti will start at 10:45am.
Stirling School in south Otago and Aurora Tamariki Early Years Care in Pine Hill have been closed.
Otago Polytechnic and Premier Institute of Education in Filluel St will start at 11am.
9:25am - Bus services in Dunedin have been suspended due to weather and road conditions.
Residents are advised to keep checking the ORC website and Facebook for more updates.
9:15am - Dunedin City Council is warning residents of treacherous driving conditions.
"For now it’s safest to stay at home if you can," Mayor Aaron Hawkins said.
The council said crews are out clearing roads, but the volume, low level and widespread nature of the snow means they won't get to all areas immediately, particularly the hill suburbs and outlying areas.
"At this stage, local roads closed include Three Mile Hill Road, Mt Cargill Road and Blueskin Road. However, driving conditions will be treacherous in all hill areas and other roads will be impassable."
8:55am - There are low temperatures across the country with Wanaka recording a record-breaking low.
MetService said the temperature at Wanaka Airport dropped to -3 degrees on Wednesday night, its coldest October minimum since records began in 1992.
8:45am - Pets can't get enough of the snow.
A video from the Southland town of Dipton shows a dog playing in the snow.
8:20am - Dunedin Airport has cancelled four flights and delayed two others.
The airport said the dumping of snow is affecting flights and passengers should check their website for flight updates.
Christchurch Airport has cancelled flights to Dunedin and Queenstown.
8:00am - Beautiful shots of the snow in Hanmer Springs.
7:50am - The snow means there is no way through Desert Road between Rangipo and Waiouru.
Waka Kotahi says State Highway 1 Desert Road is closed between Rangipo and Waiouru due to heavy snowfall.
There is a detour in place, via State Highway 49, State Highway 4, State Highway 47 and State Highway 46 for northbound traffic. Southbound traffic should use the same route, in reverse.
Motorists are advised to expect winter driving conditions on the road and allow extra time for their journeys.
7:35am - It was another frosty start further south in Dunedin.
A photo from the suburb of Saint Clair shows a blanket of snow across the city.
MetService has issued an orange heavy snow warning for Southland, Stewart Island, Clutha, Dunedin, Central Otago south of Alexandra, the Southern Lakes District south of Queenstown, and Fiordland from Te Anau southwards until 9am.
7:20am - State Highways across the South are closed due to snow.
Waka Kotahi said SH1 Dunedin to Palmerston, SH8 Roxburgh to Alexandra, SH75 Little River to Barry's Bay, SH85 Kyeburn to Palmerston and SH87 Kyeburn to Outram are closed.
7:10am - Light snow fell overnight from the Remutaka Hills right down to the suburb of Kilbirnie.
Late night commuters had their journeys disrupted on Wednesday as authorities were forced to close Wainuiomata Hill Rd due to ice.
The road has since reopened but motorists throughout the lower North Island were being urged to take care.
Meanwhile, the Desert Rd (SH1) through the central North Island was closed due to heavy snow.
"We urge motorists to avoid travel unless necessary and to drive with care in the icy conditions," police said.
