Icy blast closes key North Island road as South Island shivers

Mount Cook, Twizel and Tekapo were the coldest places on Wednesday morning, as temperatures plunged to about -9C.

SYDNEY, Aug 4 (Reuters) - An Antarctic polar blast swept across parts of New Zealand’s South Island on Tuesday, bringing snow to sea level and icy temperatures that forced road closures and disrupted schools.

Snow blanketed Dunedin, prompting police to urge residents to avoid travel.

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

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

Meanwhile, all ferry sailings in the Cook Strait for Tuesday have been cancelled due to forecast large swells.