Holidaymakers trapped in Ōhakune could enjoy a good dumping of snow even if the mountain was closed on Monday morning. Snow overnight Sunday and Monday morning which is blanketing the mountains of the Central North Island, has Ruapehu Alpine Lifts chief executive Jono Dean hunkered down but happy. “It’s the storm that this winter season has been waiting for,” said Dean, as whiteout blizzard conditions engulfed both Tūroa and Whakapapa ski fields. The significant fall had covered the fields on both sides of the mountain in 30-40cm of snow with windblown drifts of up to a metre. The conditions have also closed the Desert Road on State Highway 1 and Napier Taupō Road, said Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency.

Source: Stuff August 08, 2021 21:56 UTC