Heavy Snow, Power Cuts, and Road Closures as Severe Weather Sweeps New Zealand

A powerful weather system has blanketed parts of the South Island in heavy snow, caused widespread travel disruption, and left thousands without power, as New Zealand grapples with another round of wild Labour Day weather.

South Island Snow Chaos

A heavy dumping of snow has closed several key highways and stranded vehicles overnight across the South Island. MetService reported that Mount Cook received about 20 centimetres of snow overnight, with more expected. In Dunedin, several cars were stuck at Pine Hill, while the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) confirmed that four vehicles had been trapped overnight on State Highway 6 between Haast and Makarora, around the Camerons Flat area.

By morning, those vehicles had been cleared, but multiple South Island highways remained closed, including:

• SH6: Inangahua to O’Sullivans Bridge, and Haast to Makarora (Haast Pass)

• SH8: Lake Tekapo to Fairlie, Lake Tekapo to Twizel, and Tarras to Omarama via Lindis Pass

• SH80: Mount Cook to Lake Pukaki

• SH85: Palmerston to Kyeburn

• SH87: Kyeburn to Mosgiel

• SH94: Milford Sound Highway between Hollyford and Donne River

Motorists have been urged to delay travel or avoid the affected regions altogether, as conditions remain treacherous. A number of highways — including SH1 between Dunedin and Waitati and SH83 between Omarama and Kurow — are also closed due to snow and ice, while avalanche risks remain high in alpine areas.

Lauder, Central Otago Via NIWA/X

Lightning Strikes and Power Outages

The severe conditions have not been limited to the South Island. Lightning strikes disrupted the central North Island’s power grid overnight, prompting Transpower to issue a grid emergency notice. Meanwhile, around 8000 properties in the lower South Island were left without electricity following last week’s destructive weather.

By Monday afternoon, Otago Civil Defence confirmed that power had been restored to most areas, including Kaitangata, Ōwaka, Taieri Mouth, and much of Lawrence. However, 2,500 properties in Clutha remained without power, with crews working to restore service. Many water and wastewater plants across the district were running on generators, and a boil water notice remained in place for most areas except Balclutha, Kaitangata, Wangaloa, Milton, and Waihola.

In the capital, about 480 customers remained without power due to strong winds. Wellington Electricity said restoration efforts were ongoing, with crews prioritising safety as winds made working at height dangerous.

Travel Disruption and Flight Cancellations

The storm has also wreaked havoc on travel plans. More than 50 flights in and out of Wellington were cancelled due to strong winds, with Air New Zealand confirming that 27 flights had been affected earlier in the day. Several additional flights were proactively cancelled in anticipation of worsening conditions.

Passengers have been urged to check with their airlines for updates, as “flow-on disruptions” are expected into the night. Ferry crossings across the Cook Strait are running as scheduled for now, though KiwiRail warned of potential delays as the weather continues to deteriorate.

MetService: More Wet and Windy Weather to Come

MetService meteorologist Katie Hillyer said New Zealanders should brace for “wet and windy conditions” across much of the country, particularly in western and central regions such as Buller, Grey, Waitomo, southern Waikato, Tongariro, and Taranaki National Park.

An active low-pressure system is sweeping across both islands, bringing heavy rain, severe gales, and mountain snowthrough Tuesday. Strong northwesterly winds are expected to batter Wairarapa, Tararua, Wellington, and Marlborough, with MetService warning of “severe gale” gusts in some areas.

Active Warnings Across the Country

MetService has issued a wide range of weather warnings and watches, including:

• Heavy Rain Warnings: Bay of Plenty ranges, Taranaki Maunga, Tararua Range, Grey and Buller ranges, Canterbury headwaters, and Westland north of Haast

• Heavy Snow Warnings: Canterbury High Country south of SH73, Queenstown Lakes District north of Wānaka, and Central Otago north of Ranfurly

• Strong Wind Warnings: Marlborough, Wairarapa, Tararua District, Wellington, and the Chatham Islands

Additional rain and snow watches cover Northland, Nelson/Tasman, North Otago, and inland Canterbury, while strong wind watches are in place for Taranaki, Taihape, and inland Whanganui.

Officials Urge Caution

Authorities have urged the public to take extreme care on the roads, check conditions before travelling, and avoid unnecessary journeys. NZTA said contractors were working around the clock to clear blocked routes, but “winter driving conditions” and further snowfall could continue to cause delays.

As the weather system tracks north, MetService expects more disruption through Tuesday, particularly for those returning home after the Labour Day long weekend.