Polar Blast hits home

We can’t say we weren’t warned – the news had been warning us of the polar blast hitting the southern parts of the country and travelling north.  The  polar blast hitting the country is causing chaos on roads in the south, and has even triggered predictions of a dusting of snow for ranges around Auckland. Temperatures in the South Island are barely above zero today, and the Met Service is warning the "significant winter weather" will hit many parts of the country unfamiliar with the white stuff. We awakened to news that the temperature would not rise higher that 6 degrees in the Hutt Valley, and there would be snow down to 200metres, later amended to 100metres.  Looking out the window across our street, we could see snow on the lower slopes, a most unusual sight on these particular hills.

Snow on the lower slopes close to home

Son Michael phoned from Christchurch to tell us that his city was blanketed in snow, and would you believe it, a short time later we looked out the window to see our very own light local snowfall.  It melted away as soon as it fell, but it was certainly a very pretty sight to see.   And at the time of writing this blog, it is now snowing again!  After attending an appointment down town, we drove up to the top of the Mangaroa Hill to take some photos.  A couple of other drivers had the same idea and stopped and joined us with their own cameras.

Views from Mangaroa Hill

Robin checking out the view from the hill top – dusting of snow on the ground

While the weather is so cold, the birds really seem to appreciate the food we put out for them  They are coming in droves to peck away at the bird pudding.  At this rate I will have to mix up another one soon, I expect.  While several of the birds cling on while they peck busily away, another dozen or so flit about from branch to branch before trying their luck to land on the pudding.  

 Eating the bird pudding

The seed container hanging from the garden shed is just as popular with the birds as well, as they busily eat their fill of bird seed, while the excess spills on to the grass.  So while there may be three or four birds perched on the container, there can be twenty or so hopping around on the lawn gobbling up the spilled seed.

Feeding at the seed container

Just as well we are not away in the caravan at the moment as the nearby Rimutaka Hill Road (to travel to the Wairarapa) is closed due to snow ice and will remain closed until further notice. The New Zealand Transport Agency has been urging motorists to take extra care on the roads, watch for ice, particularly in shaded areas, and to drive to the conditions at all times.  A good day to stay home nice and cosy by the gas fire, we think.