Drivers in Hawke's Bay are being warned to be careful of black ice in the morning over the next few days as a snow flurry on the Kaweka and Ruahine Ranges turns to a bitter freeze.
A snowfall warning for the Napier-Taupo Rd on Wednesday night didn't end up affecting the highway, but the Napier-Taihape Rd, its hillier cousin, was closed from Wednesday afternoon to nearly 2pm on Thursday.
Rangitikei District Council, which closed the road on Wednesday, said there was 3 to 4cm of snow along the road and temperatures were expected to drop, causing icy conditions.
MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris said temperatures dropped to 0.5C in Te Haroto and Takapau overnight, while Napier (1.8C) had a rare cooler night than Hastings (2.2C).
![Snow covering a bush-clad Ruahine Range on Thursday. Photo / Warren Buckland](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/ANLTJYPMKDS7OYCHPQNRAQO6EA.jpg?auth=4c152d2b5b36650d50d99f077f4fa015b72a073cb7ae9dd2ab012f4546c14b47&width=16&height=11&quality=70&smart=true)