Snow like this pictured in 2018 has closed Desert Road near Mt Ruapehu. Photo: Supplied/NZTA
Desert Road has been closed on Sunday morning because of snow.
The section of State Highway 1 from Waiouru to Rangipo closed just after 6am.
A diversion is in place around the Western side of Mt Ruapehu via Waimarino and Ohakune.
MetService issued a road snowfall warning on Friday for the notorious road over the weekend, when it forecast between 1cm and 3cm of snow above 800 metres, and lesser amounts down to 600m.
The snow has brought cold temperatures to the region with Waiouru and Ohakune expecting high temperatures of 3 degrees and 2 degrees respectively on Sunday.
In the South Island at Lewis Pass a road snowfall warning was also in place for much of the weekend.
MetService said snow was expected to affect SH7 mainly between Hanmer and Lewis Pass with 1 to 2cm of snow accumulating on the road at times.
And further south snow and showers were expected on SH73 at Porters Pass, where a road snowfall warning was also in place.
MetService's next update would be issued late-morning on Sunday.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
