Antarctic cold snap sweeps New Zealand's South Island, shuts roads and schools

SYDNEY: An Antarctic polar blast swept across parts of New Zealand's South Island on Tuesday (Aug 4), bringing snow to sea level and icy temperatures that forced road closures and disrupted schools.Snow blanketed Dunedin, the South Island's second-largest city, prompting police to urge residents to avoid travel unless absolutely necessary because of icy roads."Police have received a number of reports of crashes across Dunedin this morning, with some vehicles sliding off the road. Thankfully, there have been no injuries," New Zealand Police said in a social media post.Skiers and snowboarders took advantage of the snowfall by descending Dunedin's Baldwin Street, billed as the world's steepest residential street, local media reported. Further north, snow was visible on the sand at Christchurc