Polar blast causes major disruptions across NZ

A polar blast has caused major disruptions across the country today, with snow reaping havoc on South Island roads, and torential rain causing homes flood and severe slips in the North Island. All South Island alpine highways have since reopened today but Waka Kotahi has multiple warnings for snow and ice in place for roads in Southland, Otago and Canterbury. MetService has issued a heavy snow watch until early tomorrow morning for much of the lower South Island with some places seeing snow flurries down to sea level.