Freezing fog, back-to-back nights of below zero temperatures and a blanket of hoar frost - welcome to winter in Central Otago.

While MetService has confirmed some of the recent overnight lows across Central have dipped to -7 degrees Celsius, unofficial reports show some areas have dropped to as low as -9C.

Add to that, low lying fog and hoar frosts, and the reality is bleak, unless of course you’re waiting patiently to curl on Central’s outdoor dams or ponds.

Ice master Ken Gillespie, of Oturehua, is among those keeping an eye on the conditions.

He is hoping to wake to freezing temperatures again this morning, so a much anticipated one-day curling tournament can take place on the Idaburn Dam on Saturday.

A decision will be made this morning to determine if the event can go ahead, or not.

Special care is taken to make sure the ice is thick enough before making the call.

Over the past week, the overnight low temperatures in the area had averaged -7C, he said.

“We’ve had a reasonable run and we’re very, very close [to being able to curl],” he said, earlier this week.

An icy Idaburn Dam, near Oturehua. PHOTO: The Central App

Among those also keeping a close eye on the weather is MetService meteorologist Lewis Ferris.

Lewis, who grew up in Cromwell and is now based in Wellington, knows first-hand just how cold the area can get.

“I’ve got a couple of memories that have stuck in my mind,” he said.

One involved cycling to school on a freezing cold morning and by the time he arrived any of his hair that was visible was frozen solid.

Lewis said for a long time, the coldest temperature recorded in New Zealand was understood to have been -21.6C in Ophir in 1995.

However, further research shows -25.6C was recorded at Eweburn, near Ranfurly in 1903.

Lewis talks about the current weather patterns on The Outlet this week, showcasing what is causing the consistent below zero temperatures, freezing fog and hoar frosts.

He said the forecast over the coming few days did not have any great change in it.

“I think, sadly, you just kind of got to expect that there’ll be much of the same. I’m not seeing a nice warm northwest to come and clear those things out.”

He said there might be a little bit of rain in the forecast, which could bring a chance of some blue skies later.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a complete clearance, but it looks like those temperatures at least will start to warm a little bit.”

To keep up to date with the forecast click on The Central App’s Weather button, along with Roads to check on conditions.

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