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Source: Reuters -
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Farmers and motorists are on snow alert as a wintry blast moves up the country.
Snow has been falling hard in Springfield west of Christchurch and around Waiau in North Canterbury and even more near Hanmer Springs.
Farmers are worried about newborn lambs.
Farmer Hamish McRae says they have to hope for the best.
"These month-old lambs will survive but with this significant
downfall on farms like this one, new lambs will struggle," he
says.
"Three hundred to 400 lambs could be lost but if the wind stays away we should be ok," he says.
"If we get what they predict it's going to be devastating, there's going to be lots of losses," says Don Clark, another farmer.
It will be days before they know the real cost but they are well
prepared.
With more to come over Friday night they are hoping they have done
enough.
North Island roads dicey
In the North Island, motorists are being warned to take extra care along the Desert Road where rain is expected to turn to snow over Friday night.
About 10 centimetres of snow is expected on the road in the next
24 hours and Transit New Zealand says it's got road clearing crews
on standby.
Transit is also warning those returning from school holidays to
expect delays and consider alternate routes.
Some snow is expected on the Rimutaka Hill road north of Wellington
on Friday night as well as heavy falls on the Napier-Taupo
road.
