Residents of Southland, Canterbury and Otago are being warned to expect further heavy snowfalls. Photo / New Zealand Herald
Residents of Southland, Canterbury and Otago are being warned to expect further heavy snowfalls. Photo / New Zealand Herald
KEY POINTS:
Southerners are being warned to expect another significant dumping of snow tomorrow and later in the week.
Otago and Southland have only just recovered from last month's snowfalls and freezing conditions, but MetService weather spokesman Bob McDavitt said more snow was likely to start falling from tomorrow morning.
"Again, it looks as though Central Otago will bear the brunt," he said.
The snow was likely to be low enough to be disruptive to traffic and stressful to stock and there could also be some light snowfalls in Southland and in South Canterbury.
Mr McDavitt warned tomorrow's conditions would only be the start of a cold few days.
"A surge of polar-chilled air is expected on Thursday, and this may bring snow showers to low levels in the east and south of the South Island," he said.
"Anyone making travel plans for these regions should keep abreast with the latest weather forecasts and warnings."
Meanwhile, Otago District Council is warning people to be prepared for flooding brought about by snow melting causing rivers to rise.
The council has prepared a booklet for people living in flood-prone areas to let them know where to get the latest information during a flood.
Environmental information and science director doctor John Threlfall said people would cope best when they had taken appropriate measures and put flood plans in place.
"The risk associated with major floods can never be completely removed. However, we aim to reduce their impact on people's day to day activities by providing information about the likelihood and timing of potential floods," Dr Threlfall said.
Advanced warning of likely flooding would be given to emergency services and people with assets and livestock in flood-prone areas so they could implement flood emergency plans, he said.
