South Island motorists urged to take extreme care after overnight snow
Wednesday 23 September 2026 · 2 outlets · 3 reports · updated In this story MetService, NZ Transport Agency
A southwesterly flow has brought snow to alpine passes and a funnel cloud to southern Taranaki. State Highway 73 between Springfield and Arthurs Pass Village was closed overnight due to the snowfall. Drivers are being urged to take extreme care on South Island roads.
Key facts
6 facts
- SH73 between Springfield and Arthurs Pass Village closed before 4am and reopened at 5.20am Wednesday
- A funnel cloud was sighted near Opunake in southern Taranaki at approximately 9am
- Mt Hutt received 10cm of fresh snow overnight
- Broken River Ski Area reported 8cm of snow by 6am Wednesday
- Ashburton recorded a temperature of 0C at 7am
- A road snowfall warning was in place for Lewis Pass until 9am
The full story
1 min read · 2 outlets
South Island motorists have been urged to take "extreme care" as a southwesterly flow brings snow to alpine passes and dropping temperatures. State Highway 73 between Christchurch and the West Coast experienced an overnight closure due to snow. The section between Springfield and Arthurs Pass Village, including Porters Pass, closed just before 4am on Wednesday morning and reopened at approximately 5.20am.
Winter driving conditions persist in other parts of the South Island, including State Highway 1 from Dunedin to Waitati. In the North Island, MetService maintained a road snowfall warning for Desert Road.
A funnel cloud was sighted off the south Taranaki coast near Opunake around 9am. Resident Marama Hohaia said, "We watched it for about 30 seconds and it fizzled out again but was very loud".
MetService reported that snow showers would clear slowly during the morning, with an additional 1cm potentially accumulating above 700 metres. Temperatures were forecast to plunge across the country, with Auckland expected to drop to 4C on Thursday.
How it developed
- Wed 23 Sep, 7:47amMt Hutt reported 10cm of fresh snow overnight and Broken River Ski Area reported 8cm of snow by 6am.
Where reports differ
- Reports differ on the status of snowfall warnings, with one noting a warning for Lewis Pass until 9am while another focuses on Desert Road in the North Island.
Compiled from reports by 1News and The Press.