Big chill brings warning for holiday drivers

Bikers at the Brass Monkey Rally in Central Otago yesterday. Picture / Otago Daily Times

The North Island is bearing the brunt of a southerly storm today, prompting police to warn drivers to take extreme care as they head home after the long weekend.

The freezing blast swept up the South Island overnight, with snowfalls temporarily closing roads. Most are now open but icy, making for treacherous driving conditions.

Many of the mountain roads in the South Island have been gritted and police are urging drivers to take extreme care.

State Highway 6 between Inangahua Junction and Westport remains closed, due to a slip at Hawks Crag.

Weather forecaster Augie Auer told National Radio the worst of the weather had now headed out to sea off the east coast of the North Island.

He described the weather system as a "short blast", and said the worst of it should be over by this evening.

Strong south-easterlies were still pounding the east coast and southern tip of the North Island this morning, with a 6m swell and 100km/h winds reported in Cook Strait.

However, all Interislander sailings were reported to be departing on time.

Snow was still expected to fall on the Napier-Taupo road and the Desert Road up until noon today.

Yesterday saw a fairly bleak day for most parts of the country, with periods of heavy rain or showers in both the North and South Islands from a complex low-pressure system.

The low moved east in the afternoon but will be followed today by a cold front, bringing a big chill straight from the Southern Ocean.

"It has the potential to bring snow to higher roads and that's what we've been flagging to people, being the long weekend," said MetService forecast Andy Downs.

"There will be lots of frosts and ice on the roads so that's an issue."

Police road safety staff warned motorists to drive for icy conditions by braking and travelling slowly.

Accompanying the cold front will be gusty winds which could become gale force in places, including Banks Peninsula and Cook Strait.

"It might not be enough to cancel sailings but it could be enough to make it very rough," Mr Downes said.

Snow warnings were issued yesterday for roads through Lindis, Arthur's, Porter's and Lewis Passes for today.

Showers should gradually clear in the South Island with frosty, crisp conditions, although some showers were expected to linger in Northland and eastern parts of the North Island.