Weather: Big waves, road snow warnings and wind watches in place

Aotearoa is set for a much more settled day on Thursday, as an “easing trend” of southwesterly winds spreads across both islands.

However, cold, wind, snow and rain are still expected for parts of the country causing some disruptions across the motu.

New road snowfall warnings were issued for Desert Road until noon with snow showers expected above about 500 metres and for Remutaka Hill Road till 10am with snow showers expected above 400m until late morning.

State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill was briefly closed between 10pm and 11.20pm due to snow on Wednesday evening.

Wairarapa College would finish early at 2.30pm due to the “adverse weather”, it said in a school alert. Lunchtime would be shortened and therefore would not affect time in class, it said.

Bluebridge cancelled its Cook Strait sailings on Wednesday evening due to the weather as well as its early morning sailings on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Interislander’s Kaitaki will run as a freight-only vessel and the Aratere will carry passengers on Thursday.

Both the 8.30pm Kaitaki sailing and the 2.30am sailings were cancelled overnight.

OnWednesday, wild winds caused havoc around the country, while snow watches were in place.

MetService forecaster Gerard Bellan said while high pressure moves in from the Tasman Sea, the entity still had a number of weather watches and warnings, particularly for snow and wind.

Wind watches are also in place at Coastal Marlborough, Wellington, and Wairarapa about and south of Featherston until 9am, and the Chatham Islands until Friday morning.

“The residual parts of the southwesterly flow that’s surged on the country, we are seeing quite large waves around our coasts,” Bellan said.

“We’ve still got some waves around the coast. Especially on the high tides be mindful, be careful on beaches, it’s not a great time to take out a small boat or go surfing.”

A heavy swell warning is in place in the lower north island from Cape Palliser to Mataikona until 11am on Thursday.

The large waves are expected to end by midday.

In Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, Bellan said heavy showers should clear before dawn.

“The heavy, residual showers will clear before dawn, you’ve got a sunny day coming up,” he said.

Wind was expected to ease significantly across the city.

Bellan said national temperatures were slightly below average, but were consistent with this time of year.

According to MetService, the amount of consecutive days Auckland has gone without rain is seven, from Friday, March 3, to Thursday, March 9.