Snow fall seen on the Kaweka Range Monday morning. Photo / Warren Buckland
Snow fall seen on the Kaweka Range Monday morning. Photo / Warren Buckland
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency was once again keeping a close eye on Hawke's Bay highways overnight after snow closed two main roads into Hawke's Bay on Monday, and left a dozen trucks stuck.
Snow coated the hills around the region - there was even some brief excitement about sleet that looked like snow on Te Mata Peak on Monday morning - and hail fell at semi- regular intervals across the twin cities.
The wintery blast also brought wind in its icy breath.
MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said the strongest gust of wind happened between 4am to 5am on Monday at Mahia and measured 152km/h.
Winds reached 83km/h in Napier shortly before 8am and 91km/h in Wairoa just before 10am.
Unison spokesman Danny Gough said roughly 260 homes around the region were without power as at 8.15am due to four separate outages.
They affected mainly rural and exposed areas: Tikokino (nearly 200 homes), Kahuranaki and one on Southland Rd, Hastings, and Gough said: "I think it's going to be a busy day today".
At 11am Gough said 73 homes were without power in the Tikokino Rd and State Highway 50 area, 29 homes in Southland Rd, Hastings and 45 homes in Kahuranaki Rd.
State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupō reopened for several hours on Monday afternoon, snow plough and contractors having been called in to assist the trucks stuck in icy conditions near the summit.
However, it was closed again at 5.25pm due to snow.
The Napier-Taihape Rd closed even earlier and would remain closed overnight on Monday as more snow showers were forecast, Hastings District Council advised.
The council said an update would be provided in the morning following an inspection of the road and weather conditions.
Waka Kotahi national journey manager Helen Harris said while some roads were open, the weather conditions remained challenging so motorists should take care.
Harris said contractors assisted about a dozen trucks that had become stuck on the road after losing traction before a snow plough cleared the way for the trucks to be moved through safely.
Snow had earlier closed State Highway 1, the Desert Rd, about 1.30am today and other roads and highways on the Central Plateau were also closed.
MetService had issued a heavy snow warning for the region until 6pm today, which said snow was possible down to 200m, with heavy falls above about 500m where a further 10 to 15cm of snow may accumulate on top of what has already fallen.
The Napier-Taupō Road and Napier-Taihape Road were both closed due to snowfall pictured here on the Kaweka Range. Photo / Warren Buckland
Wairoa District Council advised there was heavy snow on the road near Lake Waikaremoana and some people were unable to get past Hōpuruahine so travel should be delayed.
Dannevirke residents were treated to the sight of snow on the foothills of the Ruahine Ranges on Monday, but MetService said it wouldn't last.
Meteorologist Karl Loots said there was snow down to 200m with snow showers in the Dannevirke area overnight on Sunday and this morning.
Snow on the Ruahine ranges could be seen from Umutaoroa Road in Dannevirke. Photo / Leanne Warr
Ferris said the heaviest rainfall was Monday morning between 5-6am at Napier Airport where 15.2mm was measured in 24 hours.
Snow covers the ground in the Waikaremoana Te Urewera area. Photo / Ngai Tuhoe Te Urewera - Facebook
In the ranges there was 20-30mm which reached a peak just below 50mm measured at the Mangaorapa station in Southern Hawke's Bay.
The rain was "very showery" meaning there were gaps in the rain as opposed to a persistent band of rain so rainfall figures could vary "quite significantly" across the region.
Trees were felled by gusts in Central Hawke's Bay, the district council said, and teams worked to clear roads.
MetService said the winter blast won't last. Tomorrow is forecast to become fine in the morning and fresh southeasterlies will ease in the afternoon.
