It's tino makariri -- very cold and the icy weather blasting up from Antarctica is causing widespread disruption. Snow flurries have forced the closure of several schools and State Highways, now including the North Island's Desert Road, and the back-up State Highway 4 -- Waka Kotahi says the detour takes 4 to 5 hours. And there are warnings for Wellington's South Coast residents, where large waves could breach the seawall this evening. Snow has fallen across the South Island - Michael Cropp spoke to RNZ reporter Tim Brown in Arrowtown.