Cook Strait ferries cancelled as 6m swells forecast, snow descends on South Island
Lakes Camp and Clearwater near Ashburton were blanketed with snow on Friday morning.
Photo:
Ashburton District Council
An updated forecast from MetService has pushed back the expected start time for snowfall to sweep the South Island on Friday.
The fresh surge of winter weather was expected to
descend on the South Island on Friday
, bringing snow, sub-zero temperatures and the risk of travel disruption.
Central Otago had now been downgraded from an earlier heavy snow warning to a heavy snow watch starting at 2pm.
But inland Canterbury south of the Rakaia River remained under a warning, with heavy snow possible above 400 metres from 2pm.
Heavy snow watches were also in place on Friday afternoon for southern Marlborough, Queenstown Lakes District, and the rest of inland Canterbury.
A strong wind watch was in effect for Westland District from 6pm.
Snow flurries had already been recorded earlier on Friday in the Mackenzie Country and Queenstown.
Lakes Camp and Clearwater looked stunning after heavy snowfall.
Photo:
Ashburton District Council
Ashburton District Council said late Friday afternoon the Gorge Road was now closed at Mount Somers township because of snow.
"If you're planning to travel this weekend, please pay attention to the weather forecast and drive to the conditions."
Meanwhile, Cook Strait ferries were being cancelled this weekend due to forecast 6m swells.
Interislander had canned all passenger sailings for Saturday due to the conditions.
"All passengers are being moved to alternative sailings," it said on its website.
Cook Strait ferries are being cancelled this weekend due to forecast swells.
Photo:
Supplied
Bluebridge had also cancelled all Saturday sailings, and one in the early hours of Sunday morning.
"We are monitoring the situation closely, and if further sailings are impacted, we will notify you via text and email at the earliest opportunity," the operator told customers.
The MetService said waves could reach swells of 6m on Saturday, with a warning lasting to Sunday morning.
Wellington Region Emergency Management said the 6m swells could bring flooding and debris onto roads around high tide.
An orange swell warning was in place on Wellington's south coast through to coastal Wairarapa.
It said drivers and walkers on coastal roads, as well as surfers, divers and fishers, should take extra care.
More to come.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter
curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Forecast suggests best chance of seeing Matariki stars on East Coast
The Matariki star cluster will be visible on New Zealand's eastern horizon just before dawn. Photo: Quin Tauetau People hoping to catch a glimpse of the Matariki stars over the long weekend will have the best chance on the East Coast. The star cluster will be visible on New Zealand's eastern horizon just before dawn. NIWA's cloud cover forecast showed Eastern regions such as Hawke's Bay, Wairarapa, and the lower North Island, along with parts of the upper and eastern South Island, can expect clearer skies than other regions. Meteorologist Chris Brandolino said stargazers could check the cloud cover forecast on Vimeo, which would be updated at 3.30pm each day for the following morning. Brandolino said the east of the South Island would get the best views. "As you get farther to the north of Dunedin, over toward Timaru, Oamaru, Christchurch and farther north toward perhaps even Kaikōura, there will be some pretty good viewing conditions." He said there were actions people could take to get a better view. "If you can find an area where there's no street lights or a lack of street lights - or maybe take a 10 minute drive to where you're a bit more removed from the urban areas." Forecast by region: Upper North Island (including Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Coromandel Peninsula) East Coast (including Gisborne, Napier, Wairarapa) Western North Island (including New Plymouth, Whanganui) Lower North Island (including Wellington) Upper South Island (including Nelson, Blenheim) Eastern South Island (including Christchurch, Timaru) West Coast (including Greymouth, Hokitika) Lakes Region (including Queenstown, Wanaka) Lower South Island (including Dunedin, Invercargill) Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
$65k fence for cemetery
The new fencing. Photo: Toni Williams Wooden fencing is being installed along the Bremners Rd side of the Ashburton Cemetery for an estimated cost of $65,000. The work, which is being carried out by Hayman Fencing, was approved in the Ashburton District Council's Long Term Plan. It is a three-rail design, the same as the entrance fencing to a cemetery extension on Seafield Rd and the Methven Cemetery. The design is a contrast to old wrought iron fencing along the main part of the cemetery on Seafield Rd. The news fencing on Bremners Rd. Photo: Toni Williams District council group manager of infrastructure and open spaces Neil McCann said the new fence was a Long Term Plan project for the entire frontage of the cemetery along Bremners Rd. ''The job is a work in progress, but we hope to have it completed within the next month,'' McCann said. McCann said ground maintenance staff worked at the cemetery all year round, with the aim to keep its public areas as tidy as possible for visitors. He said there were no plans to remove the wrought iron fence. It had been relocated from its original location at Baring Square East, many years earlier.
Scoop
4 days ago
- Scoop
Fears Methven Will Be ‘Overun' With Airbnbs
A Methven resident fears an epidemic of Airbnb owners flouting the rules and over-running residential areas. Paul Dixey is calling on the council to act before it gets out of hand in the Canterbury town. Methven, just over an hour's drive from Christchurch, is popular with skiers and holiday makers. Dixey said three of the 15 properties in his new subdivision are being listed for rental accommodation. "The industry needs better regulation. "If they don't act, I fear it will become epidemic and then how will they stop it?" Dixey said it doesn't seem right that properties are paying residential rates to the council but are operating as a commercial property. "It needs to be addressed when the hotels down the road are paying through the nose to be commercial accommodation operators." The growth of holiday rentals has sparked concerns across the country, with councils considering how to regulate the industry. There are about 290 Airbnb rentals listed in Mid Canterbury. Ashburton District Council compliance and development group manager Ian Hyde said the council is considering how to handle the increase and impact of the short-term rentals. "Council staff are looking at all these issues currently and have been reviewing work done by other councils. "There is a workshop planned with councillors this month on the wider subject of Airbnbs in our district." Hyde said the district plan allows for visitor accommodation as a permitted activity for up to five guests. "If a property was advertising for more than that, they would need to stop or get a resource consent to operate. The council doesn't comment on specific enforcement complaints, but investigate where non-compliances are found. "Sometimes people make an application once they realise that what they are doing requires consent. "Council has the power to enforce the rules of the District Plan under the Resource Management Act, this can include fines, and where appropriate through the Courts. However, we prefer to work with people to address issues where we can." Dixey said he felt the rules hadn't been enforced so far. "We have no objection to them taking five [guests], but one has been advertising up to 12." He said the majority of groups are fine but you can get "that one group that they have no control over". The rental owners are not onsite so do not know how many people turn up and can mot monitor behaviour, he said. One property owner has applied for a retrospective land use consent to carry out visitor accommodation for up to 11 people. The consent document states the house would only be available for 90 nights a year. Dixie said it could set a dangerous precedent that could result in residential areas being overrun by temporary accommodation, he said. "What's to stop every house on the street applying for consent to be an Airbnb. "You might as well turn the whole place into a commercial accommodation area as the zoning rules aren't worth the paper they are printed on."
