The first snowfalls of winter fell over the high stretches of State Highway 5 between Napier and Taupo on Thursday but the southwesterly flow that brought the big chill was today easing and the thaw was under way.
"It (SH5) stayed open, although the Taihape Rd, but mainly over the other side, was a bit marginal," police Senior Sergeant Ross Smith of the Eastern District Command Centre said.
One motorist said while there was some snow at the highest spots around Te Haroto when he drove through around noon yesterday most of it had thawed away, although there appeared to be patches of black ice on some sections.
"You had to watch it," he said.
Mr Smith said no traffic incidents had been reported and although the snow had moved through conditions in some areas would still be challenging.