Eastern District Police are warning motorists to take extreme care if travelling between Mohaka, on State Highway 2 North of Wairoa, and Matawai, due to severe weather conditions making the road treacherous.
Police are also warning motorists that side roads in the area are also marginal due to the conditions.
Police staff are currently checking roads in the area. Civil Defence staff have also been mobilised due to the severe weather warnings in place for parts of the district.
Travellers are advised to please check the NZTA and GDC websites for roading conditions if intending to travel:
http://www.nzta.govt.nz/traffic/areawarnings/113569
http://www.gdc.govt.nz/road-information/
SEVERE WEATHER WARNING:
Heavy snow for the hill country between Mohaka and Gisborne city
A cold southerly flow covering the country is spreading wintry showers over most eastern parts of the country.
The heavier, more frequent showers are expected about northern Hawkes Bay and southern parts of Gisborne through to Friday morning.
Snow is forecast to 200 metres, with significant accumulations above 400 metres, before the snow level slowly rises during Friday.
The largest amounts of snow are expected about the hill country between Gisborne City and Mohaka, where another 20 to 40cm of snow may accumulate above 400 metres.
People in the area are advised that heavy snow can cause major disruption to traffic and create blizzard conditions when combined with bitterly cold southerly winds.
FORECAST FOR AFFECTED AREAS:
Hill country between Mohaka and Gisborne City
Heavy snow is forecast to ease early Friday morning.
In the 18 hours from 9am Thursday to 3am Friday expect another 20 to 40cm of snow to accumulate above 400 metres, with lesser amounts to 200 metres.
Note some areas above 600 metres could receive in excess of half a metre of snow during this period.
Remainder of Gisborne and Hawkes Bay not covered by the Warning
A bitterly cold southerly flow covering New Zealand is expected to persist for the rest of the week, bringing periods of snow to 200 metres in the east from Gisborne to Wellington and about the central high country, and to 100 metres about Marlborough and Canterbury.
Snow accumulations may approach warning criteria through to Friday morning above 400 metres, with lesser amounts down to 200 metres.
ENDS