All roads in the South Island have reopened after at least 12 roads were closed due to ice, snow and flooding.
The last of the Alpine passes reopened just after 5pm on Wednesday when the final section of State Highway 8 between Tekapō and SH80 was cleared of snow and ice at Ben Ohau.
The storm swept through the country on Tuesday, causing widespread disruptions including flooding, felled trees, road closures, power outages and canceled flights.
As it entered from northern Tasman on Monday, the storm also contained a “atmospheric river“that saw” more than 45 weather warnings issued by MetService across the country on Tuesday.
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Twenty-six of these were destined for the South Island and the warnings included heavy rain, heavy snowfall, high winds, snowfall on the road and heavy swell.
The Waka Kotahi South Canterbury highway team had three plow cars and two graders working from the military camp to Tekapō on Wednesday afternoon.
John Keenan, maintenance contract manager, Waka Kotahi South Canterbury, said deep snow made the roads impassable.
Highways would be sprinkled with more ice forecast at night.
“Drivers should be careful, avoid abrupt braking and be prepared for ice in the morning,” he said.
George Empson/Delivered
Snow on the ground at Lake Tekapō on Wednesday morning.
For the rest of the week, crews would work the road around Canterbury, Marlborough, the west coast and Otago repairing potholes and damage.
On Wednesday morning, 10 weather warnings and watches remained, mainly on the North Island.
All warnings and watches related to the low-pressure system traveling across the country on Tuesday had been erased.
On the North Island, SH25 was closed north of Whitianga between Wharekaho and Kuaotunu due to a major slip.
SH53 was also closed at the Waihenga Bridge between Featherston and Martinborough due to rising water levels and SH56 Opiki (between Tane Rd and Alve Rd) was closed due to flooding.
On Wednesday, MetService said Dunedin airport had already registered 69.2mm of rain in July. The average rainfall in July is 48.2 mm.
Unlike the day before, Hastings reached 20.2C at 1pm, while Napier reached 19.5C.
On Tuesday, the Mahia Peninsula registered the strongest gust of wind at 163 km/h, MetService forecaster Gerard Bellam said.
Westport had gusts of up to 109 mph and the local Waimangaroa Fire Department was making calls to wind-damaged properties. The roofs of a house and a large workshop were blown off, Waimangaroa fire chief Lynn Brooks said.
Chris Skelton / Stuff
A car is submerged in the Heathcote River after a flood at Ashgrove Tce in Christchurch.
On Wednesday, the storm’s focus shifted to “south from south,” Bellam said.
The storm was expected to move southeast during Wednesday and gradually ease.
Snow up to 500 meters in Southland and Otago would be “good news” for the ski fields, Bellam said.
The showers were expected to continue in the northwest of the country through Wednesday, but would form “a significant contrast” with the day before.
KAI SCHWOERER / Things
Many major and local roads across the country were closed on Tuesday due to flooding, slipping, debris and snow.
On Tuesday, the largest rainfalls were recorded in the mountain ranges, but many areas recorded over 100mm†
In the Tasman Range, 177mm of rain fell in the interior of Golden Bay in 24 hours, while in the north, 168mm of rain fell in the Gisborne Range.
Christchurch recorded 72mm with many roads closed due to flooding, especially at high tide, with some rivers in Canterbury overflowing, including the Hororata River.
Flooded fields next to Lineside Rd on the way to Rangiora, North Canterbury.
The Selwyn Civil Defense activated an emergency operations center on Tuesday afternoon, advising residents of Selwyn Huts to evacuate themselves as river levels rose in the Waikirikiri/Selwyn River in Canterbury.
The center was closed Wednesday morning after the Selwyn River peaked at 3.28m just after midnight at Ridgens Rd station, near Greendale.
“This was below levels likely to pose a risk to lower-lying areas, including the Selwyn Huts,” the Selwyn District Council said in a statement.
Civil Defense knew of at least 10 people staying overnight in temporary accommodation after being evacuated from Selwyn Huts earlier on Tuesday.
Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. it confirmed residents could return to their homes. River levels peaked at Selwyn Huts around 10am but did not reach the banks at the huts.
Selwyn Civil Defense local controller Helene Faass said the Selwyn River “remained high and fast flowing in its lower reaches, including at Coes Ford”.
METERVICE
This is the third dose of rain in the past 8 days for boggy parts of the North Island, and another one awaits in the wings, arriving late Thursday.
Several homes were hit by flooding in Hororata, Kirwee, Sheffield and Darfield.
“The total number of affected properties is unknown at this stage. Civil defense personnel and the municipality will follow up on the flood reports.”
Much of the surface flooding had abated, but some roads were damaged by floodwater.
Derretts Rd, Homebush Rd and Malvern Hills Rd reopened Wednesday morning. Watsons Rd and Washpen Rd remained closed while inspections were underway at Pig Saddle Rd and Scotts Rd (Hororata).
Kowai Rd was passable but had significant damage.
“Floods could remain on local roads and drivers are urged to exercise caution,” Faass said.