Strong winds and rain are bearing down on the central and lower North Island as heavy weather closes roads in the North Island's central plateau and across the South Island.
Get the essential information here, take a closer look at the storm's impact on the North Island, and follow our live blog for updates as they happen.
Arthur's Pass is blanketed in snow early this morning. Photo: NZTA
Forecast
Check the latest severe weather information here
There is a heavy rain warning in Tararua, Wellington, Kāpiti, Manawatu ranges.
A heavy snow warning has been issued for mid and north Canterbury and Kaikōura district, and high country in the central North Island, including Hawke's Bay and Manawatu.
A strong wind warning is in place for Wellington, Kāpiti, Marlborough Sounds, Taranaki, Whanganui and Wairarapa.
To share pictures of the weather where you are, email to: iwitness@radionz.co.nz
Power cuts
Power is out to about 4500 homes in the lower North Island.
Emergency centres
Manawatu-Whanganui Regional Council will staff its emergency operations centre overnight, with concerns over flooding in Manawatu.
It expects to open the Moutoa floodgates on the Manawatu River between Foxton and Shannon early tomorrow morning, along with the Mangaone Stream in Palmerston North.
That may affect some roads in the Milson Line area.
The council said another weather pattern in the morning may bring up to 100mm of rain in the Tararuas, which is more than fell today, as well as more snow in the northern part of the region.
The Ruapehu District Council emergency centre will also be staffed overnight, while the Tararua and Manawatu district councils will monitor the situation.
The Lower Hutt Emergency Management Office has been activated as a precautionary measure as heavy rain is forecast to continue.
Roads
Snow and ice warnings are in place for many state highways across the country. For full details on road conditions and closures go to NZTA's website.
State Highways closed:
- SH1 Rangipo to Hunterville incl Desert Road - Snow and ice
- Tongariro National Park ring route: SH46, SH47, SH49 and SH4 - Snow
- SH41 Manunui to Kuratau - Snow
- SH5 Taupo to Napier - Snow and ice
- SH5 Tirau to Ngongotaha
- SH4 Whanganui to Raetihi
- SH53 is closed at Waihenga in South Wairarapa
- Porters pass - SH73 from Springfield to Arthur's Pass - Snow
- SH70 Peketa to Waiau - Snow and ice
- SH1 to Kaikōura will close at 6pm tonight but will reopen at 7am tomorrow as it usually does.
North Island
South Island
Air travel
Flights are being affected at airports across the country. Wellington Airport has suspended regional flights because of strong winds, but jets are operating.
Check travel details online here;
Ferries
Interislander ferry sailings have been suspended through to Friday morning, starting with the 2.45pm sailing from Wellington yesterday.
Wellington SH1 slip
One lane of SH1 through Ngauranga Gorge will remain closed after a landslip caused long delays on the arterial route on Tuesday.
A temporary 50 km/h speed limit was expected to remain in place there and one southbound lane would remain closed for several days.
The Transport Agency advised motorists to expect continued delays.
