A heavy snow watch remains in force over large parts of Te Waipounamu/ South Island Wednesday and overnight into Thursday, potentially passing over the island early Thursday.
“Yesterday’s orange warning has been downgraded to yellow for north of Arthur’s Pass/ central Canterbury,” says Tresca Forrester, Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency Journey Manager for the West Coast and Top of the South Island.
“Drivers will still need to drive well-prepared and ready for snow and ice in inland Buller District, western Tasman, inland Canterbury and about and north of Arthur’s Pass, inland Marlborough, the Richmond Range and Nelson Lakes National Park,” she says. “It’s still possible short closures could occur across the road network.”
Further south, there is a heavy snow watch over much of Otago and Southland, inland from Dunedin and across to Milford Sound/ Piopiotahi. Crews are well prepared with grit trucks and de-icing compound replenished.
Gorge Hill in Southland, SH94, at daybreak today (Wednesday) – trucks and graders ensuring the road is safe as it can be for winter driving conditions.