Polar freeze set to continue for week

Otago Daily Times

10 hours ago

The snow has stopped falling (for now), but much of Otago and Southland will remain in a chilled state as temperatures are unlikely to reach double digits this week.
MetService meteorologist Surprise Mhlongo said the southern regions endured the coldest weather recorded so far this year.
The Maniototo town of Naseby received its biggest snowfall in the past couple of years.
The coolest temperatures were recorded yesterday morning, when Wanaka dropped to -4.2°C, Queenstown to -3.2°C, Alexandra to -2°C, Invercargill to -1.9°C and Gore to -1.3°C.
The coldest temperatures recorded by MetService were at Te Anau, which hit -7°C and the Lindis Pass (-6.7°C).
Although there were snow flurries around the city over the weekend, Dunedin's official temperature remained above zero though it did not climb higher than 7°C. The lowest was 1°C, hit on both Saturday and Sunday.
The unofficial temperature gauge in North Rd, North East Valley, read 0°C at 3pm yesterday.
Mr Mhlongo said southerly winds had pushed a "very cold air mass" up New Zealand.
"A combination of that cool air mass and strong winds turned precipitation into snow."
He said temperatures would increase slightly over the next few days, but at a very gradual rate, and they would remain in the single digits.
"The next few days we will see a difference of a degree or two on an improving trend."
Queenstown and Alexandra would reach a maximum temperature of 7°C today but could drop down to about -1°C overnight tonight.
Invercargill and Gore would remain in the positive single digits for the rest of the week.
Snow would continue to fall in the western parts of Otago, but no more snow was expected for other inland parts of the region.
Dunedin would warm up to a high of 9°C today and crack double digits by Wednesday.
He said Otago and Southland were expected to experience close to average temperatures this month.
Naseby General Store owner Nathan Brown said gumboots became essential footwear in the township over the weekend.
While the roads had been cleared by yesterday, snow built up on the footpaths and it was icy.
The frozen snow was 10cm to 15cm deep in places.
The community made an effort to clear some footpaths themselves around town.
The snow attracted a few people into town on Saturday but yesterday was a bit colder and a lot more people chose to stay inside, Mr Brown said.
The snow was heavier and lingered longer than it had last year.
"Last year we had a couple of dumpings of snow here, but it sort of melted away quite well, whereas today it's still hanging in the trees, so it looks quite stunning."
Naseby Forest Recreation Area manager Paul Hart said it was the biggest snowfall he had seen in the past couple of years.
"It's certainly hanging around this time because the ground is reasonably cool."
He said it was always good when it snowed.
"It's like a little winter wonderland when you get out in the forest where there's no tracks."
All snow-affected state highways in the South Island reopened yesterday.
State Highway 87 between Mosgiel and Kyeburn and State Highway 85 between Kyeburn and Palmerston were both closed for a time because of snow.
A long-term winter forecast from Niwa has predicted this winter will be warmer than average, but that did not mean it would be warm.
Snow, frosts and cold wintry blasts would still occur from time to time, it said.