Steam pours off into the cold air as a sheep begins to thaw-out from this mornings severe frost in the Bay of Plenty. Photo / Alan Gibson

Black ice hits North Island roads, country shivers for second night running

Author: NZME staff,
Publish Date: Mon, 31 Jul 2017, 9:49AM

Motorists are being warned of black ice across the North Island after the mercury plunged below zero in many places and Auckland hit near-zero temperatures for the second night running.

Temperatures across the country dipped near or under zero with Auckland's overnight low of 1.3C managing to nudge out Saturday night's chilly 1.5C.

MetService forecaster Tuporo Marsters said at least two Auckland suburbs - Albany and Takanini - hit zero just before daybreak.

Last night was the coldest night since July 2015.

The bone-chilling wintry conditions were felt throughout the North Island with many inland areas covered in frost and recording temperatures well below zero.

Paeroa was -2.5C and Rotorua an even chillier -3C.

With a minimum temp of -0.9 at Whangarei, its tied for the 8th coldest winter morning since records began in 1967. #climate pic.twitter.com/yywIvitfyw
— NIWA Weather (@NiwaWeather) July 30, 2017

Marsters said Mt Cook recorded the coldest recorded temperature with -8C. The village barely managed to reach zero yesterday, he said.

It was another frosty night with the cold shifting to the North Island. -5 Taupo, -3 Hamilton and Rotorua. https://t.co/Yjbq0jxdqz ^JR pic.twitter.com/i25KTFBd6q
— MetService (@MetService) July 30, 2017

The sub-zero icy conditions were also posing problems for motorists throughout the North Island, with roads turning treacherous from black ice.

The NZ Transport Agency this morning warned motorists to be wary of slippery patches of road across the Coromandel Peninsula.

CAUTION: Icy winter condition exist on #SH25 around the Coromandel. Please drive safely & #TakeExtraCare: https://t.co/LR9bvUt5d7 ^TP pic.twitter.com/KUK9p28RbW
— NZTA Waikato/BoP (@NZTAWaiBoP) July 30, 2017

Black ice was also starting to cause problems on Bay of Plenty roads with cars spinning out on slippery surfaces.

A police spokeswoman said a vehicle had slid on ice on State Highway 30 south of Rotorua and had ended up flipping on to its side around 6.30am.

A second crash north of the city car an hour later left a car also flipping on SH36 in the Ngawaro area.

No one was injured in either accident, she said.

Rotorua: Black Ice on the roads this morning, Drive with care-DS
— Time Saver Traffic (@TSTraffic) July 30, 2017

But this was probably the last night of the bitterly cold temperatures for the north with a warm northerly wind bumping up temperatures across the country a degree or two today.

A heavy rain warning has been issued for Fiordland and Westland with the prospect of more snow for the south over the central South Island tomorrow.

Rain was already proving hazardous with the Milford Rd closed due to an increased avalanche risk.

Mixture of wet and dry roads across the District. Roads have been well gritted but still watch for ice forming at daybreak.
— QLDC (@QueenstownLakes) July 30, 2017

By midweek Northland, Auckland and the Coromandel Peninsula were set to be deluged with MetService expecting rain warnings to be issued.

Moderate rain is expected on Tuesday in northern Wellington, Horowhenua Kapiti Coast and southern parts of Manawatu.

"Given the sodden conditions, even lesser amounts such as 25mm to 40mm falling in under 12 hours could cause further issues, such as surface flooding and slips," Metservice says in a weather watch.

"People in these areas are advised to stay up to date with the latest forecasts in case this watch is upgraded to a warning or further areas are added."

Today's forecast
Auckland: Morning cloud, fine with light winds. 13C
Hamilton: Morning cloud, fine with light winds and early frosts or fog. 12C
Tauranga: Fine with morning frosts, light winds. 13C
Wellington: Cloud increasing, a few late showers. Gusty northerlies. 12C
Christchurch: Fine with frosts, then high cloud increasing. Evening showers and northerly winds. 14C
Dunedin: Cloud increasing with afternoon showers, then becoming fine. Fresh northerlies turning westerly. 12C