A powerful winter blast struck New Zealand, closing schools, shutting major state highways, and causing dozens of crashes across Dunedin. Sleet and snow also reached Wellington, while transit disruptions affected sea travel and freezing temperatures prompted ice warnings nationwide.
School Closures and Highway Disruptions Across Dunedin and Otago
Snow falling to unusually low levels across the eastern South Island shut down schools and disrupted daily routines. All Dunedin primary, intermediate, and secondary schools closed for the day, alongside East Otago High School in Palmerston and Lawrence Area School, while several early childhood education centres also shut or delayed their openings. The Ministry of Education advised parents and caregivers to check directly with their providers as conditions continued to shift. In tandem with the school closures, the severe weather forced the cancellation of all Otago Regional Council bus services in Dunedin.
Major transport routes bore the brunt of the storm. State Highway 1 from Pine Hill to Waitati and State Highway 87 between Outram and Middlemarch both experienced temporary closures before reopening around midday. Road snowfall warnings remained active for multiple key mountain passes and routes, including the Napier-Taupō Road, the Desert Rd, Remutaka Hill Rd, Lewis Pass, Porters Pass, and the Dunedin to Waitati Highway.
More Than 20 Crashes and Urgent Police Warnings on Icy Roads
Dunedin police responded to more than 20 crashes as vehicles slid off slippery roads, though authorities confirmed no serious injuries were reported. Acting Senior Sergeant Simon Reay noted that conditions improved slightly around lunchtime as the snow started to melt and allowed roads to clear, but warned motorists about hazards returning overnight. Police urged residents to avoid non-essential travel, warning that freezing overnight temperatures could transform damp streets into skating rinks by Wednesday morning.
“Our advice to people would be if you can delay going anywhere, please do so. If you don’t need to go anywhere, please don’t. If you do need to go somewhere, please just take your time, and think about your following distances and expect delays, because it’s not the best driving conditions out there.”
Acting Senior Sergeant Simon Reay, Dunedin Police
The New Zealand Transport Agency issued further warnings for the central and lower South Island, predicting that days of freezing temperatures and ice on the roads would follow the storm. Road contractors deployed grit and anti-icing agents across state highways to mitigate the risk of transparent black ice, which remains exceptionally difficult for drivers to spot during early morning and late night commutes.
Sleet and Snow Reach Wellington as Cook Strait Ferries Cancel Sailings
The wintry blast extended north into the capital on Tuesday afternoon, with residents across the central business district and surrounding suburbs reporting precipitation. MetService confirmed that what fell over Wellington was a mixture of sleet and snow. Coastal areas faced severe marine disruption as well, driven by a heavy swell warning along the Wairarapa coast featuring waves rising up to six meters. Both Interislander and Bluebridge cancelled multiple Cook Strait sailings for Tuesday and Wednesday in response to the rough sea conditions.
Transpower Monitors Record Electricity Demand Amid Freezing Conditions
As freezing air settled over the country, grid operator Transpower closely monitored electricity demand, anticipating usage levels to push toward record highs later in the week. Transpower spokesperson Chantelle Bramley emphasized that the low residual notices issued to the industry were part of standard operating procedures. Industry response matched expectations to manage morning and evening peaks, ensuring adequate generation capacity without threatening household electricity supplies.
“We’re monitoring the situation closely, and the industry has responded as anticipated to resolve potential low residuals across the peak morning and evening periods on Wednesday. We are continuing to liaise with the industry to ensure there is enough generation being offered to meet what is forecast to be record electricity demand through the rest of the week.”
Chantelle Bramley, Transpower Spokesperson
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