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A car slides off the road in snowy conditions - Source: ONE News -
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There are warnings an icy blast sweeping up New Zealand will make roads treacherous.
MetService says some heavy snow is expected in the central North Island on Wednesday night.
And further south, travel could also be disrupted for motorists travelling across the Rimutaka Hill to Wairarapa.
MetService says snow showers in Southland and eastern Otago and severe southwest gales about Banks Peninsula have eased.
State Highway One, the Desert Road through the central North Island, was closed by snow before dawn on Wednesday, trapping some truckies.
It reopened later in the morning and now the battle is to keep it clear.
"It's the first snowfall that's caused the closure this year," says Murray West of Downer EDI Works.
The reason for the icy blast is a low that has moved up from the south.
"It's had unobstructed access to the cold air mass over Antarctica, so it's pulled up all this cold air," says Jim Hickey, ONE News weather expert.
While many have been playing in the snow, enjoying the wonders of an approaching winter, if more snow falls when the heavens open up again it could turn from postcard perfect to treacherous travelling.
Further south, high winds cancelled some Cook Strait ferry crossings on Wednesday morning as swells reached seven metres.
They began sailing again in the afternoon but it was rough.
Southern farmers on alert
And in the south, farmers are being warned to watch out for
their stock as another cold blast hits.
Otago has copped the worst of it with some roads and schools closed
in Dunedin.
Temperatures plummeted and icy snow fell early Wednesday morning in
Dunedin, halting some bus routes.
With heavy snow on the roads, they are very slippery and some opted to walk rather than risk the journey.
Several high roads around Dunedin were closed first thing in the morning.
And to the delight of some children, a couple of primary schools also shut their doors.
It was the first time Brockville School has run its hangi fundraiser in snowy conditions.
Temperatures are hovering around zero degrees on the hills above Dunedin. About five to ten centimetres of snow has fallen on the hills. The worst of the showers has passed through. However, temperatures will continue to freeze.
Snow also arrived at Christchurch airport, Riccarton and Avonhead on Wednesday afternoon while there has been hail and sleet in other parts of the city.
The wind chill in Christchurch lowered the temperature to around minus seven degrees.
For up to date weather forecasts for your region go to the tvnz.co.nz weather page .
Have you got pictures or images of the icy weather in your area? Send them to us via Your Cam or email news@tvnz.co.nz
