The polar blow that shut roads and cut power to thousands of homes goes on to hold a tight grip on the country with more record breaking snow expected this evening but the end is in sight.
The freezing weather sweeping up New Zealand has conveyed snow to winterless Northland, broken Auckland’s record coldest temperature, and engendered chaos about the country.
Residents have been incapable to leave their houses in Christchurch and Wellington today as the roads were too insecure to drive on, and public transport has been critically hit.
Travellers have been isolated at
airportairport as some flights were cancelled, particularly in Christchurch and Queenstown where the airports were shut for part of the day.
Mail will not be delivered for a second day in several parts of the country, and the whole lower North Island will miss the post today.
Mount Tutamoe, just north of Dargaville, was dusted with snow this dawn. The snowfall on the summit was two inches thick.
RECORD COLD
Travellers were isolated at airports as some flights were canceled, even so Christchurch and Queenstown airports have currently reopened.
“While more snow is likely, the ending is in sight. It’s still a couple of days away though.”
More wild weather has already attained Wellington this afternoon with snow reported in city suburbs. A further 15 to 30cm snow was projected in near the capital this evening. Severe wind chill to coastal areas between Canterbury, Wellington and the Wairarapa was also forecast.
The heavy snow was expected in Canterbury, with 15-30cm at lower levels and 30-60cm above 300m.
But New Zealanders had good news to look forward to – MetService said the temperature would sneak up by about one degree each day till the end of the week.
Wellington where snow fell for the first time in nearly half a century.
Unfaithful situation
Many state highways about New Zealand were shut this morning, including the Desert Road and Rimutaka Hill road in the North Island and the Lewis Pass and Arthurs Pass in the South Island.
Police have warned of unreliable driving situation as the snow would turn to ice, which has already seen one car slide off the road on the southbound lane close the Tawa off ramp this morning.
Conditions in the northern hill suburbs of Wellington stayed hazardous with 24 hours of snow now frozen on the ground.
The Transport Agency was interceding with police to get the slush swept off roads, and grit poured over the worst-hit places to give more grip.
Many children stayed at home as some school in Wellington and all schools in Christchurch were closed. And bus services were cut off in both cities.
About 1000 homes were without power in Lincoln, Rakaia, Greendale and West Melton. Power was also dead set 420 homes in Upper Hutt and about 350 homes in South Taranaki, Whanganui, Manawatu and Wairarapa.
The worst was not over with residents in the lower North Island being warned that more power cuts were projected today.
