Snow covered Arthur’s Pass on 19 August 2024. Roads affected by severe weather will stay closed overnight, with snow warnings lasting until Tuesday. A heavy snow watch is in effect for Central Otago from 9pm Monday to 3am Tuesday. Snow may fall heavily above 300 metres, MetService warned.
Many areas in the South Island and central/eastern North Island will face frost on Tuesday morning. Urban residents should prepare for very cold temperatures, with Christchurch expecting -4°C.
State Highway 2 near Ōpōtiki is closed because of a large slip at Waiotahe Beach. The Transport Agency reported that the slip is still moving, making repairs unsafe. Dangerous Pōhutukawa trees must be removed before cleanup can start. Arborists will begin this work Tuesday morning.
State Highway 56 in Ōpiki is also closed due to flooding, and it will be reassessed late Tuesday afternoon. State Highway 53 is closed overnight because river levels are too high near Waihenga Bridge in Wairarapa.
Wind gusts were very strong, reaching 141 km/h at Nugget Point in Otago and 105 km/h at Cape Reinga on Monday. Strong winds are expected to lessen overnight.
The Moutoa floodgates will stay open overnight to help reduce pressure on the Manawatū River. Alicia Carswell from Horizons Regional Council said the rain in the region has slowed since the weekend, and there are no current rain warnings.
By Wednesday, sunshine will offer relief from the cold, with a high-pressure system bringing warmer temperatures for most areas. However, winds and rain are expected to return to the South Island on Thursday and then to the North Island on Friday and Saturday.
“It’s yo-yo weather at its finest,” said MetService meteorologist Mmathapelo Makgabutlane.
