Warmer days as chill eases

Jess Fraser, 20, and brother Seth, 13, of Akatarawa, play in the snow on the Rimutaka Hill Road which was closed until early afternoon yesterday. Picture / APN

Temperatures tipped to rise from city’s icy 11C high as cold air moves off the country

The cold snap affecting Auckland isn't quite over, but it is easing slowly.

Today, temperatures in the Auckland area would reach a high of 14C, a few degrees warmer than yesterday's meagre high of 11C, said Chris Noble of MetService.

"The coldest air has now moved off the country. [Yesterday] was probably one of [Auckland's] coldest in a while," he said.

A few showers will interrupt an otherwise fine day around Auckland today with southwesterly winds.

Tonight will be a cold one, with parts of the Auckland area expected to get down to 3C, Mr Noble said.

The centre of both islands will be the best place to be today, with long, fine spells expected.

"It's just Auckland and Northland looking at those showery periods."

Frosts are likely in Waikato and Bay of Plenty. "We're looking at a low of -2C in Hamilton [overnight] and that'll be a similar story in many inland areas," Mr Noble said.

With the southwesterly flow easing back, snow will be falling on hills and ranges but at a higher level than yesterday.

The start to the week brought snow to the major skifields.

The Remarkables had 20cm of snow on Monday and Coronet Peak had 15cm. Cardrona received 20cm on Monday night. Cardrona reported its biggest number of school holiday guests in history, and put it down to the winter holidays in New Zealand coinciding with those in Australia.

The North Island skifields have profited the most from the low temperatures.

Mt Ruapehu media manager Annah Dowsett said snow had been falling at the mountain for a few days.

"Over the last few days we've had between 25cm and 30cm on both Whakapapa and Turoa, which is great," she said.

The snow fell in Ohakune town on Monday, which added to the excitement, she said. "[Tomorrow] is looking like the pick of the week.

"The weekend is coming up looking good, too," Ms Dowsett said.

Most of the runs on the mountain were open, but it was all hands on deck shifting the snow around the mountain and creating trails on runs.

Meanwhile, as expected, the Rimutaka Hill road, Wairarapa's main road link to Wellington, was closed from early yesterday.

Cars and trucks parked up at the base of the hill before 7am, their drivers hoping for clearance.

But by 11am the owner of the nearby Kiwi Coffee and Kai coffee cart, Aaron Peters, told the Wairarapa Times-Age everyone gave up and turned around as the New Zealand Transport Agency continued issuing closure notices. The road opened shortly before 1pm.

Clearing up

Whangarei:
Today: A few showers with fine spells in between. High 14C, Low 5C.

Auckland:
Today: Showers clear by tonight. High 14C Low 3C.

Hamilton:
Today: Fine with frosts in the morning. High 13C Low 2C.

Tauranga:
Today: Fine with a chance of frost in the morning. High 14C Low 2C.

- Additional reporting Wairarapa Times-Age