Snow closed roads in the South Island, now a front moving north could bring downpours for Gisborne
Snow being cleared from a road in Tekapo
South Island motorists trapped by snow earlier on Saturday have managed to drive out, but not without caution.
Up to 30 vehicles were towed after State Highway 8 between Twizel and Fairlie, and State Highway 80 between Aoraki Mt Cook and Ben Ohau, were closed due to snow, police said.
Snow falls had eased by Saturday evening, with a New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) advisory urging motorists to use chains were required.
Cars became stuck when snow fell near Lake Tekapo on Saturday. The deep south could get snow to 300 metres late on Monday.
Earlier snowfall cut road access into Tekapo and Mt Cook, stranding day-trippers and causing two buses to slide into snow.
Alex Gualter from holiday house company Discover Tekapo said the buses had slid on SH8 just minutes east of the Mackenzie District village but they had been towed out.
One couple from Timaru had been on a day trip to Tekapo and were stuck there for the night after the road closure. She knew of about half a dozen other people who had found themselves stuck in the town.
"Road condition was so bad due to snow everybody was stuck until snow truck came," said reader EJ Kim.
The snow in Tekapo village was about 10cm deep, said Gualter. SH8 has since reopened and SH80 reopened about 6pm.
Chains were essential for any travel along the road between Aoraki Mt Cook and Ben Ohau, and road users were advised to take extra care.
Nelson Bays and West Coast emergency services were responding to reports of flooding and tree falls in those areas. At Golden Downs in inland Tasman District, a tree was down and blocking both lanes of Kerrs Hill Rd. Police advised residents to stay off the road.
Snow at Tekapo on Saturday.
Civil Defence in Okarito, Westland, was dealing with flooding at the lagoon and in Nelson, there was flooding on Whakatu Dr, but the road was clear.
FRONT MOVES NORTH
Heavy rain warning remain in place for Bay of Plenty and west of Whakatane, expect 70 to110mm rain between 11pm Saturday to 11pm Sunday.
Snow at Mount Cook village on Saturday morning.
The Bay of Plenty from Whakatane eastwards to the Gisborne ranges will accumulate 90 to 130mm between 3am Sunday to 6pm Sunday.
A front preceded by strong northerly winds and rain will moving across northern and central New Zealand Saturday night and during Sunday is responsible.
MetService also expected rain to hit Mt Taranaki, which could accumulate over 12-15 hours.
Some roads around Mount Cook were closed on Saturday due to snow.
Rain is forecast to ease throughout the North Island on Sunday, while the north and south of the South Island could have some scattered rain, with occasional showers possible elsewhere.
HEAVY RAIN ON FRIDAY NIGHT
Overnight the heaviest rain was in the West Coast ranges, where one station recorded 136mm in the 12 hours to 7am, including 20mm in one hour. A station in the ranges of western Nelson had 110mm in 12 hours.
Wairoa River waters surge under SH6 in Brightwater after heavy rain in the Nelson region and forecast over much of the weekend.
Hokitika had 66mm in 12 hours, including 11mm in one hour, while Takaka had 62mm in 12 hours, including 11mm in one hour. Nelson city had 25mm in 12 hours.
Civil Defence in Okarito was dealing with flooding at the lagoon at midday on Saturday. In Nelson, there was flooding on Whakatu Drive, and at Golden Downs a tree was blocking both lanes of Kerrs Hill Rd.
Black ice made for treacherous roads in Southland on Saturday morning.
Waimea play Marist in Senior Womens Rugby at Tahunanui Sports Field during heavy rain in the Nelson region, with more forecast over the rest of the weekend.
There were two car crashes reported overnight in South Otago and Southland and, although a police spokesperson said there was no indication that black ice was the cause in either, police were warning Southland drivers to take extra care.
Unfortunately for Wellington, the city was getting wet for the rugby test between the Lions and All Blacks.
Auckland is in for a northerly blast this weekend.
- Stuff
