Snow has closed a large stretch of State Highway 73 in Canterbury and triggered multiple rockfalls as a winter storm batters the South Island, with forecasters warning the worst is still to come.
A "complex" low and frontal system is slowly moving over the South Island and is expected to bring a "prolonged period of heavy rain" that should turn into heavy snow for Inland parts of Canterbury and Otago.
The highway shut between Springfield and Otira this morning as a wintry blast swept across the South Island.
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MetService's Heather Keats joined Breakfast as a "prolonged period of heavy rain" was forecast for parts of the South Island. (Source: Breakfast)
NZ Transport Agency said multiple rockfalls had been reported in the area, and asked motorists to avoid the route or delay their journeys.
"The worst effects of the current winter storm are expected to unfold today, and people travelling around the South Island - especially inland and through alpine areas - are urged to keep an eye on weather forecasts and the status of the highways," the agency said.
State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound remains closed from the Lower Hollyford Road intersection to Donne River because of avalanche risk. Road snowfall warnings also cover Lewis Pass (SH7), Porters Pass (SH73), Lindis Pass (SH8), Crown Range Road and Milford Road (SH94).
New warnings are in place for State Highway 8 from Fairlie to Tekapo (including Burkes Pass), and State Highway 80 from Glentanner to Mount Cook Village, because of snow.
"Motorists are urged to travel with caution – including reducing their speeds, increasing their following distances, avoiding sudden braking or turning movements, and staying as visible as possible."
Orange heavy rain warnings were in place for Westland, the headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass, and the headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers. A heavy snow watch covered the Canterbury High Country south of the Rangitata River and Otago from north of Arrowtown to Ranfurly.
Surface flooding warnings also applied on SH6, from Makarora in Otago to Fox Glacier on the West Coast, and from Lake Wahapo near Whataroa to Harihari.
'High avalanche danger'
The Mountain Safety Council said there was "high avalanche danger" across the Southern Alps, including Arthur’s Pass, Aoraki/Mt Cook, Ohau, Queenstown, Wānaka, and Aspiring regions.
"This means natural avalanches are likely, and human-triggered avalanches are very likely. Dangerous avalanche conditions exist, with the potential for large and destructive avalanches," the Avalanche Advisory read.
"Caution is advised for people tramping, hunting or on-approach to ski objectives in the valley, as it is possible for large natural avalanches to run to valley floor during or immediately after this storm.
"The volume of precipitation coupled with rapidly fluctuating freezing levels has contributed to a complex and unstable upper snowpack."
MetService head of weather news Heather Keats said the weather was "playing out as what we expected".
She said the snow would ease later in the evening, but "there's still a lot more rain to come all the way through till tomorrow".
"Those fronts will start to rise up the South Island, move over the North Island this weekend, and then this particular system will be gone, and we can celebrate the arrival of spring," Keats said.
Full list of weather warnings and watches
Heavy Rain Warning – Orange
Ranges of the Grey and Buller Districts – 12 hours from midnight Thursday to noon Friday.
Westland – 27 hours from 9am Thursday to noon Friday.
Headwaters of the Canterbury lakes and rivers about and south of Arthur's Pass – 21 hours from 3pm Thursday to noon Friday.
Headwaters of the Otago lakes and rivers – 12 hours from 2pm Thursday to 2am Friday.
Strong Wind Watch
Wellington, Wairarapa south of Masterton and the Marlborough Sounds – 14 hours from 6am to 8pm Friday.
Heavy Snow Watch
Canterbury High Country south of the Rangitata River and Otago north of Arrowtown to Ranfurly – 6 hours from 9am to 3pm Thursday.
Road Snowfall Warnings
Lewis Pass (SH7) – 5 hours from 6am to 11am Thursday.
Arthur's Pass (SH73) – 10 hours from 2am to noon Thursday.
Porters Pass (SH73) – 12 hours from midnight Wednesday to noon Thursday.
Lindis Pass (SH8) – 13 hours from 2am to 3pm Thursday.
Crown Range Road – 11 hours from 4am to 3pm Thursday.
Milford Road (SH94) – 5 hours from 7am to noon Thursday.
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