Drivers warned about snow on roads in South Island, Cook Strait ferries cancelled

RNZnational

Plunging temperatures have arrived overnight for much of the country.

State Highway 87 between Outram and Middlemarch in Otago was closed by snow on Monday night.

Meanwhile, State Highway One is closed in Dunedin from Pine Hill Road to Leith Valley Road due to heavy snow.

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MetService meteorologist Ethan Walton-Jones said snow would be falling across the country.

"In Otago and Canterbury, we're expecting flakes falling right down into the town levels, and then further north, all the way up as far as Gisborne, we'll have a fresh frosting of snow up on the hills."

Snow warnings for parts of the North Island began from 4am Tuesday morning - including Desert Road and Remutaka Hill Road between Wellington and Wairarapa.

"For all the Crown Range Road, the Dunedin - Waitati Highway, Porters Pass, Lewis Pass and the Remutaka Hill Road. But we're also expecting more of the road snowfall," Walton-Jones said.

Snow showers are expected on Remutaka Hill Road, with up to 6 centimetres accumulating near the summit.

A heavy swell warning has also started for the Wairarapa area, from Ngawi to Flat Point.

Most Cook Strait ferry sailings are cancelled this morning, due to forecast high winds and large swells.

Interislander has cancelled all of its sailings, and Bluebridge has done the same except for two services earlier this morning.

Wellington's Harbourmaster Grant Nalder said the swell is forecast to reach between 5 and 9 metres at its peak around midday, while Walton-Jones said waves of up to six metres are expected this morning.

Nalder said swells would not be as bad as some recent storms Wellington has had, but rough enough to cause disruption.