The "winter week" on the road with showers, snow

Snow closed a main alpine pass from the South Island and MetService warns of other snowfall at 500m today.

A cold front crossed the country last night leaving the north-east leaving behind a west flow, MetService The meteorologist Karl Loots said:

This front was behind gusts of rain across the country. last night, especially in the east of the North Island, and pockets of deep snow in the South Island. The Pass (State Highway 7) had been closed from the Hanmer exit until Springs Junction due to the snow.

Heavy rains and snowfall caused Crown Range Rd to close this morning, but reopened at 8:00 am

Queenstown Lakes District Council announced that the road was closed shortly after 6:00 am 30.

Clearing and snow clearing took place on the road as the council warned of "wet roads in the district". ] Council Communications Advisor Campbell Weal urged road users to slow down in the district.

"With all the rain we have had, there is also more risk of surface floods and falling rocks around the district. more water to enter the soil and forced the water table to rise above normal levels.

The road opened again at 8am, but motorists were advised to carry snow chains.

In Central Otago, the Dansey Passage was restricted to four-wheel drive vehicles because of the snow

Milford Road was closed from Hollyford Road to Chasm because of a risk of "lightning." moderate avalanche

. 19659003] MetService said that an additional 10 to 15 cm of snow could fall on the road above 800m this morning and early in the afternoon, with smaller amounts up to 400m.

There were also snow warnings on the South Island Highway for the Porters Pass (SH73), the Lindis Pass (SH8) and the Crown Range Road.

Otago, Southland and Fiordland were under heavy snow this morning, with snow forecast at 500m.

NZTA stated that heavy rains in the east of the North Island had caused two large landslides on Sunday, closing both SH35 Rootway Bay and SH2 Waimana Gorge

This week was rather a " typical winter model, "says Loots.

"There are some characteristics, nothing serious, just a little disturbed by periods of rain and rain"

Today, the western parts of the North Island would experience periods of rain, while those of the east would be rather good, according to Loots

In the South Island, it would be the opposite

The west coast would become well after the rain of this morning, before the rain spreads to the eastern areas from the extreme south to Nelson and Marlborough.

The front would shed rain down. North this afternoon and Taranaki by tonight. [19659003] Tomorrow, the front would calm down, with some showers remaining in some parts of the North Island, mainly in the west

Wednesday another front would arrive at Southland and Fiordland before going up the country on Thursday and Friday.

"There will be nothing serious, though," says Loots. 9659021] Today 's weather

Whangārei

Beautiful spells. One or two showers in the afternoon. West breezes. 15C high, 5C during the night.

Auckland

Cloudy periods. A few showers, mainly in the afternoon. West breezes. 14C high, 7C during the night

Hamilton

Cloudy periods and some showers, mainly in the afternoon. Westerlies dying in the evening. 14C high, 3C overnight.

Tauranga

Beautiful, then cloudy afternoon with a downpour. Westerlies dying in the evening. 14C high, 4C overnight.

New Plymouth

Cloudy periods and a few showers. Westerlies. 13C high, 6C during the night.

Napier

Fine. Westerlies. 15C high, 1C during the night

Wellington

Fine at first. Rain starts at noon and the strong north winds change to the south. 12C high, 7C night.

Nelson

Intermittent morning shower, occasional rain in the afternoon. Light winds. 11C high, 4C during the night.

Christchurch

Cloudy with showers. Southwesterlies. 10C high, 4C during the night.

Dunedin

Cloudy with rain sometimes. Southerlies. High 9C, 5C during the night.