MetService SEVERE WEATHER at 10:02 am Saturday 07-Aug-2021 Heavy snow and severe gales for parts of central New Zealand. A rapidly deepening low is forecast to move across New Zealand from the west on Sunday, bringing heavy snow to low levels and severe gales to central areas. The heaviest snow is expected in northern Canterbury and southern Marlborough above 200 metres, and is likely to disrupt travel, damage trees and powerlines.Cold conditions may also cause stress for livestock.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING at 10:12 am Sunday 08-Aug-2021 Heavy snow and severe gales for parts of central and northern New Zealand Updated to include Coromandel Peninsula in the Strong Wind Watch. A rapidly deepening low moves east across central New Zealand during today (Sunday) and early Monday. This low is expected to bring heavy snow to low levels and severe gale southerlies across the central and northern districts of the country. The heaviest snow is expected in northern Canterbury and southern Marlborough above 200 metres, and central and southern parts of the North Island which is likely to disrupt travel, damage trees and powerlines, and cause stress to livestock.

MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING SEVERE WEATHER WARNING at 9:57 am Monday 09-Aug-2021 Heavy snow and severe gales for central and eastern parts of the North Island. A deep low to the east of the North Island is moving slowly away today, but continues to bring heavy snow to low levels and severe gale southerlies to central and eastern parts of the North Island this morning and afternoon.

Avalanche Danger ratings were raised to high for Aoraki/Mt Cook, Two Thumbs, Craigieburn, Nelson Lakes, and Tongariro.

A number of schools in the central North Island were closed due to the snow conditions and the power outages.

Twenty-five vehicles were stranded by the heavy snow on State Highway 73 at Arthur’s Pass.

Lewis Pass was closed because of the heavy snow.

The Desert Road was closed between Rangipo and Waiouru because of the heavy snow.