Desert Road closed as snow moves north

The Desert Road is prone to snow disruption in winter. File picture / Richard Robinson

Cars and trucks were trapped on the Desert Road section of State Highway 1 today as a belt of icy weather made its way up the country.

The road was closed from early afternoon.

During the evening, the Automobile Association (AA) advised the alternative route through the central North Island was also closed.

Police said the closures were due to snow and ice and access to the north was along SH3 from Bulls, through Wanganui and New Plymouth.

"Snow has fallen on Desert Road and is now icing up," police central communications said.

"Do not travel unless absolutely essential. It is anticipated that the roads may not be open until mid-morning tomorrow."

Adding to the Desert Road closure, SH1 had been closed all the way from Turangi to Bulls, the AA said.

SH49, which runs around the south of Mt Ruapehu from SH1 to SH4, was closed, as was SH4 from Wanganui to Taumarunui, which includes a section up the west side of the mountain.

Also closed were SH46 and SH47 -- to the north and northwest of the mountain.

In Otago, three sections of highway that had been closed earlier today due to snow were reopened but late this afternoon extreme care was still needed due to snow and ice on seven sections of highway in the region.

Chains were essential in three places and three sections of road were closed to towing vehicles.

In Dunedin, tonight's Forbury Trotting Club meeting was cancelled as a result of the closure, due to snow, of the motorway north of the city during the morning.

MetService spokesman Bob McDavitt said the snowy weather had moved up the country during the day.

Southwest winds from a deepening low around the Chatham Islands had kept temperatures low with Invercargill not getting much above 5degC.

While southwesterlies did not contain much moisture, between 3cm and 5cm of snow would have settled in the mountains, he said.

Waiouru police said snow had started falling there about 10am, with the Desert Rd from Waiouru through to Turangi being closed around 1pm.

Transit New Zealand said 20 cars and two trucks had been trapped by the snow. Contractors had managed to clear a track for the cars, but the trucks, which were fully loaded, had to be pulled out

MetService's forecast for Queen's Birthday weekend includes plenty of showers but also periods of fine weather.

Coastal gales warnings were late this afternoon in place for the whole west coast, and the east coast from Cape Runaway north, Cook Strait, for the east coast of the South Island north of Akaroa Head, and Foveaux Strait.

Despite the chilly weather today, the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) is predicting a generally mild winter for most of the country.

Above average temperatures are predicted for the whole North Island and Nelson/Marlborough for the next three months. In the rest of the South Island, average temperatures are predicted.

'However, as with all winters there will be cold spells from time to time," Niwa said.

Rainfall is set to be normal or below normal in the east of both the North and South Islands but normal or above normal in Buller and the west and south of the South Island.

- NZPA