Cold snap to test rugby fans

Rugby fans and players will have to brave a biting southerly at
tonight's Lions vs All Blacks test match in Christchurch, as a cold
front surges up the country.

According
to the MetService, the cold front is just passing over Oamaru, bringing
snow down to 400m in Queenstown and Central Otago, and is set to cross
Canterbury from early afternoon.

Up to 5cm of snow was likely as low as 200m in the evening, affecting mountain roads in Milford, Lindis Pass and Porters Pass.

Overnight,
the cold blast will smite the lower North Island, bringing sleet and
snow to the Rimutaka Hill Rd and the Desert Rd, where 4-8cm may
accumulate from this evening to midday Sunday.

However, forecasters were predicting the cold snap will largely clear by the end of the weekend.

There
were weather problems further north too, with a mini-tornado
ripping through eastern parts of Auckland causing minor damage to some
buildings.

Witnesses reported seeing a funnel-shaped storm high in the sky around the suburb of Manurewa and Flat Bush in South Auckland.

The Fire Service also rescued at least 3 people trapped in their cars by floods after the deluge.

Meanwhile, Police assigned to monitor fans have been redeployed to other duties.

There are thousands of Lions fans in Christchurch, but police say they are all behaving themselves.

The
city has been so quiet that officers rostered on to deal with any
trouble have been reassigned to other tasks, such as chasing up
outstanding arrest warrants.

Police are advising people heading to tonight's game to wrap up warmly.

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB