Spring snow hits Queenstown

Queenstown and Central Otago received a dusting of snow overnight closing some roads.

A road snowfall warning is still in place for Crown Range Rd from 9pm Monday to 4am Tuesday and MetService is forecasting rhree to six centimetres of snow to accumulate about the summit.

Queenstown is a chilly 1C with a high of 9C forecast.

There is also a heavy snow watch from 8pm to midnight on Monday for Otago, excluding Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes. Heavy snow is forecast above 500m where snowfall amounts may approach warning criteria.

Queenstown from Beach St. Photo / Facebook Vyed Oilisec

Crown Range Rd was closed for a time due to heavy snow but since re-opened, though chains are necessary. There are also multiple slips along the alternative route via Kawarau Gorge. NZTA is suggesting travel is delayed if possible. Kingston to Queenstown is also affected by multiple slips.

Maniototo Area School has closed for the day due to snow affecting bus routes and risk of power loss but many other schools remain open today.

Snow has damaged potentially thousands of plants at Queenstown Nursery's growing sites, says Matt Jones.

Snow accumulated on a tree in Arrowtown.

Jones says the nursery leaves smaller plants outside to expose them to the elements making them hardy.

"We do accept losses, the issue for us is that when it happens this late in the season that new growth really gets burnt off by this sort of weather. If they're small enough they just won't make it."

Jones says the full scale of the loss won't be known until up to a week after the snow but he estimates thousands of plants could be lost. Older and larger plants shouldn't be as affected because they are strong enough to cope with the weight of the snow and its effects.

"Or if we don't lose them then it would definitely at least knock them back quite a bit to the point where they wouldn't be ready as soon as they should."

Snow at Queenstown Nursery's growing site.

Workers will now laboriously knock the snow from plants to prevent the weight of the snow causing further damage.

The snow has added to an already wet season which has meant slow growth, and fewer sales.

Marie Fumeron of Durf Doggy Daycare in Arrowtown said the centre had to close today due to fallen trees mostly on the driveway.

She said they were yet to fully assess the damage but she hoped the fallen trees could simply be cut back. The centre also had a slip on the compound last week due to heavy rain.

According to the Orbus Facebook page, buses are still running though disruptions and delays are expected to to the snowfall and ice.