NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
April 2005 New Zealand Cold Snap
(
2005-04-23
)
Snow, cold temperatures and high winds affected many regions and lightning, thunder and hail rattled many parts of the country overnight on the 23rd and the 24th.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Snow, cold temperatures and high winds affected many regions.
Lightning, thunder and hail rattled many parts of the country overnight on the 23rd and the 24th.
An icy blast came straight off the Antarctic ice shelf and the cool winds reached the South Island relatively unobstructed.
High Wind / Gust
Strong winds gusted up to 120 km/hr.
Gisborne
Snow / Ice
at
Gisborne City
Gisborne stayed on 9ºC on the 24th.
The southerly flow brought snow down to 500 m around the city.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow / Ice
at
Desert Road
Snow blanketed the Desert Road on the 24th.
The Desert Road was closed on the morning of the 25th by snow and ice.
Desert Road was closed again overnight of the 25th, between Rangipo and Waiouru, but was open on the 26th.
There was a number of minor crashes on Desert Road.
Landslide
at
Manawatu Gorge
On State Highway 3 through Manawatu Gorge, a large slip caused by rain delayed motorists early on the 25th.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
Most parts of Wellington had strong wind gusts, lightning and thunder.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Cook Strait
The swells in Cook Strait were bigger than 8.3 m on the night of the 24th.
Snow / Ice
at
Rimutaka Hill
There was a light dusting of snow and slushy conditions on Rimutaka Hill Road on the 25th. Motorists were advised to take extreme care.
Hail
at
Wellington City
There was a hail storm in Wellington on the 24th.
The hail was the size of golf balls in some instances with a diameter of 4.0 cm.
There was savage weather overnight.
There was minor storm damage reported.
Marlborough
Maritime / Coastal
at
Tory Channel
The Arahura ferry took seven hours to complete a crossing when it lost power in bad weather near the entrance to Tory Channel on the 24th.
The ferry lost power in 4 m swells near the entrance to Tory Channel.
High Wind / Gust
Winds reached 75 km/hr.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
A light covering of snow blanketed Tekapo and parts of Christchurch.
Hail
at
Christchurch
Hail first began falling in Christchurch on the 23rd night and continued throughout the 24th.
Streets were white with hail.
Windows were broken.
The hail was the size of marbles with a diameter of 1.5-2.0 cm.
Insurance industry payouts was $13,000,000 in 2005.
Christchurch experienced a cold wintry blast. Temperatures dived from 19ºC on the 23rd to 4ºC by the evening.
Christchurch had a high of 8ºC on the 24th.
Lightning
Hail occurred in a violent electrical storm.
Multi Hazard
at
Gebbies Pass
One car was reported to be stuck on Gebbies Pass Road on Banks Peninsula. Police rescued occupants but car had to be left behind.
Snow / Ice
at
Port Hills
Heavy snow fell on the Port Hills on the 24th and draped them with snow.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Otago
People were trapped by snow in Central Otago on the 24th..
A light covering of snow blanketed Queenstown and Dunedin.
Snow / Ice
at
Dunedin
Police were forced to close Dunedin's northern motorway for several hours.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
The temperature in Queenstown fell to -2ºC overnight on the 23rd to the 24th.
Stewart Island
Maritime / Coastal
at
Stewart Island
High seas forced a 71-year-old yachtsman to be rescued off Stewart Island on the 24th.
References
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924-1986 and 1991-2006, Source: OBS
- Headline: Snow, ice and wind wipe out summer.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 25 April 2005.
- Headline: Chilly weather likely to linger.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 26 April 2005.
- Headline: Winter's icy fingers touch Christchurch.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, 24 April 2005.
- Headline: Wintry weather grips the country.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 25 April 2005.
- Headline: Desert Road open after snoow and ice overnight.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 26 April 2005.
April 2005 New Zealand Cold Snap
(
2005-04-23
)
Snow, cold temperatures and high winds affected many regions and lightning, thunder and hail rattled many parts of the country overnight on the 23rd and the 24th.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Snow, cold temperatures and high winds affected many regions.
Lightning, thunder and hail rattled many parts of the country overnight on the 23rd and the 24th.
An icy blast came straight off the Antarctic ice shelf and the cool winds reached the South Island relatively unobstructed.
High Wind / Gust
Strong winds gusted up to 120 km/hr.
Gisborne
Snow / Ice
at
Gisborne City
Gisborne stayed on 9ºC on the 24th.
The southerly flow brought snow down to 500 m around the city.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow / Ice
at
Desert Road
Snow blanketed the Desert Road on the 24th.
The Desert Road was closed on the morning of the 25th by snow and ice.
Desert Road was closed again overnight of the 25th, between Rangipo and Waiouru, but was open on the 26th.
There was a number of minor crashes on Desert Road.
Landslide
at
Manawatu Gorge
On State Highway 3 through Manawatu Gorge, a large slip caused by rain delayed motorists early on the 25th.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
Most parts of Wellington had strong wind gusts, lightning and thunder.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Cook Strait
The swells in Cook Strait were bigger than 8.3 m on the night of the 24th.
Snow / Ice
at
Rimutaka Hill
There was a light dusting of snow and slushy conditions on Rimutaka Hill Road on the 25th. Motorists were advised to take extreme care.
Hail
at
Wellington City
There was a hail storm in Wellington on the 24th.
The hail was the size of golf balls in some instances with a diameter of 4.0 cm.
There was savage weather overnight.
There was minor storm damage reported.
Marlborough
Maritime / Coastal
at
Tory Channel
The Arahura ferry took seven hours to complete a crossing when it lost power in bad weather near the entrance to Tory Channel on the 24th.
The ferry lost power in 4 m swells near the entrance to Tory Channel.
High Wind / Gust
Winds reached 75 km/hr.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
A light covering of snow blanketed Tekapo and parts of Christchurch.
Hail
at
Christchurch
Hail first began falling in Christchurch on the 23rd night and continued throughout the 24th.
Streets were white with hail.
Windows were broken.
The hail was the size of marbles with a diameter of 1.5-2.0 cm.
Insurance industry payouts was $13,000,000 in 2005.
Christchurch experienced a cold wintry blast. Temperatures dived from 19ºC on the 23rd to 4ºC by the evening.
Christchurch had a high of 8ºC on the 24th.
Lightning
Hail occurred in a violent electrical storm.
Multi Hazard
at
Gebbies Pass
One car was reported to be stuck on Gebbies Pass Road on Banks Peninsula. Police rescued occupants but car had to be left behind.
Snow / Ice
at
Port Hills
Heavy snow fell on the Port Hills on the 24th and draped them with snow.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Otago
People were trapped by snow in Central Otago on the 24th..
A light covering of snow blanketed Queenstown and Dunedin.
Snow / Ice
at
Dunedin
Police were forced to close Dunedin's northern motorway for several hours.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
The temperature in Queenstown fell to -2ºC overnight on the 23rd to the 24th.
Stewart Island
Maritime / Coastal
at
Stewart Island
High seas forced a 71-year-old yachtsman to be rescued off Stewart Island on the 24th.
References
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924-1986 and 1991-2006, Source: OBS
- Headline: Snow, ice and wind wipe out summer.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 25 April 2005.
- Headline: Chilly weather likely to linger.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 26 April 2005.
- Headline: Winter's icy fingers touch Christchurch.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, 24 April 2005.
- Headline: Wintry weather grips the country.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 25 April 2005.
- Headline: Desert Road open after snoow and ice overnight.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 26 April 2005.