Ice warning as snow on Hawke's Bay mountains turns to big freeze

The Kaweka Range from near Maraekakaho on Thursday. Photo / Warren Buckland

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

It's expected to get even cooler again on Friday night and into Saturday morning, down to 0C in Napier, as southwesterlies die off and fine weather ramps up the frost.

Ferris said while the Saturday morning sport could be icy, temperatures are expected to hit mid teens during the day, and could even hit 17C in Napier on Sunday as northwesters come through.