BRUCE MACKAY/Stuff
Dark clouds roll into Wellington on Wednesday afternoon.
The puffer jackets will have to stay put in Wellington as a cold snap will plunge temperatures to single digits and even bring snow to some areas on Thursday.
It was just 6.2C at 4.55pm on Wednesday but MetService said with the wind chill added, it felt like just 2C as a blast of cold air from Antarctica moves up the country.
MetService https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/weather-news/300704250/live-weather-coldest-temperatures-yet-to-come-polar-blast-hits-capital”>has issued a heavy snow watch for Wairarapa including the Tararua Range south of Mount Bruce and the eastern hills of Wellington. Snow is expected to reach sea level and could be heavy above 200 metres.
There is also a warning that the Remutaka Hill Road will get 4cm to 6cm of snow and that it could settle on the road from midnight Wednesday.
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METSERVICE
Snow warnings are in place for many areas as a cold snap slowly moves up the country.
Meteorologist Dan Corrigan said Wellington’s temperatures would be in the low single digits in the morning, between five and eight degrees. On average, the daytime high temperature during the first week of October in Wellington is 14.7 degrees.
However, Corrigan also said the ‘’feels like’’ temperature would dip below freezing until midday because of wind chill caused by the southerlies.
“We give off heat which warms the air surrounding us and a small layer around our body,” he said. “In warm conditions it stays close to the skin but when it’s windy that layer gets blown away and quickly replaced with really cold air.”
Olivia Caldwell/Stuff
Snow has been falling in the South Island on Wednesday.
Snow is also a possibility in Wellington City and the best chance of it happening would be in the early hours of Thursday, but how long it last depends on the wind direction. But those who want to see snow in Wairarapa are likely to get their wish.
“We’ve got high certainty that snow is going to affect overnight and into tomorrow,” Corrigan said. “We’re looking at snow in Masterton and heavy snow 200 metres above sea level.”
BRUCE MACKAY/Stuff
Snow is a possibility in Wellington overnight on Wednesday.
Most Metlink services will continue except buses replacing trains from Wairarapa with the network operator’s acting general manager, Tim Shackleton, saying passengers should consider working from home and delaying travel tomorrow.
Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency’s Emma Speight, said State Highway 2 over the Remutaka Hill could be closed and road users in the lower North Island should prepare for winter driving conditions.
The AA said for https://www.aa.co.nz/cars/motoring-blog/winter-driving-tips-and-techniques-to-keep-you-safe/”>winter driving, motorists should drive more slowly than usual, avoid sudden braking and be aware of black ice.
A Wellington Electricity spokesperson said they had load control measures in place in case there was a surge in demand and there would be standby crews to respond to unplanned outages.
Wellington City Council spokesperson Richard MacLean said while the council is not opening temporary shelters for the homeless community, they’ll keep an eye out along with organisations who help them.
JOHN BISSET/Stuff
Snow fell over parts of South Canterbury on Wednesday,
https://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/news/wellington/130079913/time-to-rug-up-as-polar-blast-brings-chilly-temperatures-to-wellington.html”>