Winter storm shuts South Island highways, avalanche risk climbs
A severe winter storm has caused highway closures and increased avalanche risks across New Zealand's South Island. While the heaviest snowfall has passed, authorities warn that heavy rain and hazardous travel conditions will persist through Friday.
Why it matters
Extreme weather events disrupt critical infrastructure and supply chains, necessitating public safety warnings for residents and travelers.
<p>A winter storm continues to batter the South Island today, closing state highways, triggering rockfalls and raising avalanche risk, though MetService says the worst of the snow has now passed.</p> <p>A "complex" low and frontal system is <a href="https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/08/26/west-coast-in-the-firing-line-as-winter-storm-parks-over-the-south/" target="_blank">slowly moving over the South Island</a> and is expected to bring a "prolonged period of heavy rain" that should turn into heavy snow for Inland parts of Canterbury and Otago.</p> <p><b></b><a href="https://www.tvnz.co.nz/player/newsclip/heavy-snow-disrupts-travel-high-avalanche-risk-for-south-island" target="_blank"><b>Heavy snow disrupts travel, high avalanche risk for South Island - Watch on TVNZ+</b></a></p> <p>More than 300mm of rain has fallen around Franz Josef since the storm began, with rivers along the West Coast running high and snow building across mountain passes and elevated communities.</p> <p><b>Do you have photos or videos of the weather? Email us at news@tvnz.co.nz</b></p> <p>NZTA said State Highway 94 between Te Anau and Milford Sound remained closed because of avalanche risk.
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