More than a thousand skiers remain trapped on Mt Hutt in Canterbury this morning after howling winds continued to roar overnight on the mountain.

Yesterday winds were clocked at 200kph which caught skiers and staff unaware as it cut visibility and closed the access road.The stormy conditions had been forecast by some experts to arrive 24 hours later.

Wild nor’ westers were still gusting up to 180kph overnight but are expected to abate this morning and some weary skiers are hoping to make their way home today.