Schools closed by snow in Dunedin

All primary and intermediate schools and kindergartens in Dunedin have been closed because of snow this morning.

In Southland, Mossburn and Mararoa schools are shut for the day and the snow is also affecting a number of school bus routes.

The polar blast sweeping the country has also closed the Desert Road in the central North Island.

Conditions eased during the morning with Dunedin's Northern Motorway and roads at Akaroa among those re-opened.

The latest southerly to hit an already winter weather battered country after an intensely cold winter, saw Wanganui hit by a hail storm overnight.

A Wellington police communications spokesman said snow closed the Desert Road just after 5am and there was also snow on the Rimutaka Hill this morning. While the road had not been closed drivers were advised to drive with caution, he said.

A Dunedin police spokesman said early today that while snow was still falling there had been no reports of problems, but expected this to change once people started to use the roads.

Canterbury received a fresh coating of snow while Christchurch missed out on but police reported that some roads were slippery due to the weather.

A police spokesman reported a slip at Governors Bay due to the weather.

The MetService yesterday said the latest blast should provide just a short sharp shock, with the weather clearing from today and becoming fine on Wednesday, as the southerly moved up the country.

Road information:

- Several roads on Banks Peninsula closed
- Summit roads above Akaroa re-opened mid-morning
- Chains required on Arthur's and Porter's passes
- Light snow on the Rimutaka Hill Road between Wairarapa and Upper Hutt.
- SH1, the Desert Road, shut between Rangipo and Waiouru
>> Latest information from AA Roadwatch

- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB