Alexandra’s IceInline skating rink was closed on Thursday (June 26) after warm winds turned the surface into a pond.

At the Maniototo Adventure Park in Naseby the ice rink was also looking a bit wet on Wednesday afternoon, but staff said it had firmed up again on Thursday morning.

The weather on Thursday in both towns was expected to reach up to 14 degrees again and staff were anxious about the integrity of the ice.

IceInline chairman Murray Miller said despite the $1.6 million roof protecting its Alexandra facility from sun, rain and wind, there were still days that Mother Nature had her way.

“We did have to close one day last season in June because of wind,” he said.

Having a roof meant the facility could extend its season by six weeks - opening earlier in late April and running right through to September.

But with the recent unexpected warm temperatures and heading into what was usually the coldest month of the year, it was anyone’s guess as to how the season would continue.

Metservice meteorologist Michael Pawley said the balmy weather in Central Otago was caused by the ‘foehn effect’, as a result of the heavy rain and strong winds on the West Coast releasing heat as they descended over the mountain ranges.

He said the good news was the ice rinks would freeze again as southerlies were directed at both Central Otago and Canterbury over the weekend.

Metservice has put out a heavy snow watch for inland Otago and Canterbury, overnight Friday and Saturday, while on both coasts there would be more heavy rain coming.