There are widespread winter conditions across much of the South Island/ Te Wai Pounamu this morning. 

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency urges people to take extra care if they need to travel and be prepared.

“We are hopeful that snow conditions will ease today,” says Waka Kotahi Journey Manager Tresca Forrester. 

“However, wind chill is keeping temperatures very low and ice may continue in many places today and overnight to Wednesday.

“Please watch your following distances, slow down, turn your lights on and expect ice on some bridge decks and areas that get little sunlight.  

“Grit trucks will be busy, expect to see snow ploughs and in some places chains may be needed.”

Key alpine pass reopens 10 am

The Lewis Pass, SH7, from the Reefton, West Coast side over the Rahu Saddle, to the Hanmer Springs turnoff on the Canterbury side has reopened at 10 am today.

• Please check for updates here: Roads

Closed as of 10 am Tuesday due to snow and icy conditions from the top of Te Waipounamu to the south:

Tasman:

• SH60 Takaka Hill (black ice Upper Takaka to Takaka)
• SH6 Kohatu (south of Nelson) to Murchison

Otago:

• SH85 Omakau to Kyeburn
• SH85 Kyeburn to Waynes
• SH87 Kyeburn to Outram
• SH1 Dunedin to Waitati

Otago update 10am:

• SH8 Lindis Pass OPEN. Pockets of ice in shaded areas, a lot of grit out. Extreme care
• SH6 Hawea to Haast OPEN. Same deal, watch for ice in shaded areas.
• SH85 Alexandra to Palmerston CLOSED. Still large areas of packed snow and ice, update 12pm
• SH8 Alexandra to Roxburgh OPEN. Ice/grit, extreme care
• SH6 Cromwell to Frankton. Open, but extreme care required due to ice and grit, especially through Gibbston valley area.
• SH6 Frankton to Kingston. Open, care required due to ice/grit

Southland:

• SH93 Clinton to Mataura
• Highway to Milford Sound/ Piopiotahi now open.

Queenstown Lakes District Council Facebook for updates on the Crown Range and other local QLDC roads: https://www.facebook.com/QLDCinfo/

Open but please take care – wind and snow/ ice:

• SH6 Rai Valley to Hira
• SH73 Springfield to Arthur's Pass
• SH7 Reefton to the Hanmer Springs turnoff, the Lewis Pass
• SH1 Gore to Milton
• SH1 Milton to Palmerston
• SH6 Cromwell to Gibbston/ the Kawarau Gorge chains must be carried
• SH6 Centre Bush to Kingston
• SH6 Kingston to Lumsden
• SH8 Roxburgh to Raes Junction
• SH90 Gore (McNab) to Raes Junction
• SH8 Raes Junction to Milton
• SH94 from Gore to Lumsden and from Mossburn to Te Anau
• SH95 from Manapouri to Te Anau
• SH96 Wreys Bush to Ohai
• SH96 from Winton to Ohai
• SH97 Mossburn to Lowther

Road snowfall MetService warnings here:  https://www.metservice.com/warnings/home

Haumarutia tō haere (drive safe) and stay warm.