Motorists trapped by snow as 'strong cold front' sweeps up the country

Snow has trapped vehicles in the South Island as a “strong cold front” sweeps across Aotearoa today.

Heavy snowfall has led to several vehicles getting stuck on State Highway 8 near Lake Pūkaki.

Roading crews are assisting by ploughing snow so they can get out, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) said.

SH 73 between Christchurch and the West Coast is closed to towing vehicles, and snow chains are essential.

In Otago, area warnings are in place because of snow for SH8 between Ōmarama and Tarras, including Lindis Pass, SH 85 between Ōmakau and Kyeburn, and the Crown Range Road.

The transport authority said extra care is needed when driving those routes.

MetService has warned severe gales and heavy rain are possible in central New Zealand, while heavy snow is expected in the South Island.

Snow on State Highway 73 at Porters Pass. Photo / NZTA

A raft of severe weather warnings is in place, with an orange heavy snow warning for Canterbury High Country and Canterbury Plains south of Arthurs Pass, an orange heavy rain warning for the Tararua Range and an orange strong wind warning for Wairarapa, the Tararua District and southern Hawke’s Bay.

Parts of the Canterbury High Country are under a heavy snow watch, Buller has a heavy rain watch, and Horowhenua, the Kāpiti Coast, Marlborough Sounds and Hawke’s Bay north of Hastings have strong wind watches.

MetService meteorologist Luis Fernandes said today is “quite busy in terms of weather in New Zealand”.

“There is a strong cold front that’s going to be sweeping over basically all of New Zealand as the day progresses,” Fernandes told the Herald.

“That strong cold front pushes across the South Island in the morning and then in the afternoon and evening it moves across the North Island.”

With many families expected to be travelling for the start of the school holidays, NZTA warned motorists in the central South Island to prepare for road closures and weather-related delays because of heavy snow.

“Carrying warm clothing, food and water is advised on inland journeys in case of lengthy travel delays or detours,” NZTA said.

“When snow or ice is on the road, motorists are urged to reduce their speeds, increase their following distances, avoid sudden braking or turning movements and to stay as visible as possible.”

Fernandes said the snow will particularly affect South Islanders travelling inland, with snow set to drop to about 200m.

Motorists travelling in the central South Island are being urged to prepare for road closures and weather-related delays. Photo / NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

He said the cold front is expected to lose steam as it moves north, but it’s still looking like “another relatively wet and windy day” for Auckland.

The good news is the weather, for the most part, is expected to “become a lot more settled” on Monday and into the middle of next week.

While daylight saving spells the start of the spring and summer months, Fernandes said it will “take time for things to start warming up”.

“Although we have officially entered spring and daylight saving certainly makes it feel a little bit more like summer because of the longer evenings, there is a long tail to spring in the cooler weather in New Zealand.”

The cold front is set to bring extreme temperatures in some areas. Napier will have a high of 22C today and a low of 3C, while Christchurch will hit 14C after a freezing low of -1C.

Auckland faces a high of 18C and a low of 10C, Tauranga 19C and 6C, Wellington 15C and 5C, and Dunedin 11C and 6C.