Disaster averted as wind machines kick in.

Wind machines were working in the Waihopai Valley, as the temperature dropped to almost zero.

By Penny Wardle, Stuff

Dr Stu Powell of FrostConsult™ said in some areas temperatures were the coldest recorded for January for many years.

In the Waihopai Valley, where the thermometer dropped to 0.8 degrees Celsius, his temperature logs showed at least two wind machines kicking in.

Southerly breezes made for a milder night in Seddon, where the minimum was 4.9C and Ward, 4.7C.

If frosts had struck, the cold would have stripped vines of their leaves, leaving bare canes unable to push sugar into grapes. That would have been a major disaster for the wine industry, Mr Powell said.

"It would be like kicking a power point out of the wall. Everything stops."

Generally, frost risk did not begin in Marlborough until mid-March, Mr Powell said. He did not know of any January frosts but below-zero temperatures had been recorded here in December and February.

MetService had predicted a low of 6C for Sunday night and it wasn't until late in the afternoon he realised how cold it was getting, Mr Powell said.

Source: Stuff.co.nz