It is relatively common for grounds to be closed during winter with the wet weather last year leading to grounds being closed for many days. Council contracts manager Gareth Jones said the council did not simply look out the window, see it was raining and close the grounds. Dunedin weather is pretty unpredictable over the winter so we want the grounds to be the best going into it.'' He said heavy rain was forecast for yesterday afternoon and it had already rained in the morning so the best option was to close grounds. The council looked at the forecast and the condition of the grounds before it made a decision.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 21, 2018 15:11 UTC