NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
August 2016 New Zealand Cold Snap ( 2016-08-03 )
A very cold spell of weather from 3-11 August brought snow to low levels in the east of the South Island, and a severe snowstorm hit areas on the Napier-Taupo Highway. Later in the period there was heavy rain and flooding in some northern North Island areas.
North Island
Snow / Ice
at
North Island
The wild weather brought down about 150 33kV poles, and about 50 11kV poles across the Taupo Plains. Power outages affected 40,000 properties in Napier, Hastings, Gisborne and Wairoa. About 400 rural properties across Hawke's Bay remained without power for several days, and it took up to a week to reconnect them all.
The Napier-Taupo Road was closed for five consecutive days because of heavy snow up to about one metre deep. The Desert Road was also closed because of heavy snow.
Households went through $4 million of extra power over the weekend (6-7 August) as the polar blast sent temperatures plummeting across the country. Consumption around the country surged by 15 gigawatt-hours compared to the previous weekend. In particular, the Lower North Island saw a big increase in power use.
Hawke's Bay
Snow / Ice
at
Hawke’s Bay
MetService estimated 70cm of snow had fallen in parts of Hawke's Bay on 7 August.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Pohue
Heavy rain washed out a section of McVicar Rd, off the Napier-Taupo highway north of Te Pohue, on 6 August. The washout cut road access to and from State Highway 5 for several farming families and a holiday park. The McVicar Rd residents also lost their power and phone lines during the extreme weekend weather.
Gisborne
Multi Hazard
at
Gisborne City
Gisborne town centre had effectively shut down due to the power cut and wild weather conditions.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Dunedin City
All Dunedin primary and intermediate schools, and kindergartens, were closed for the day on 5 August. The closure affected schools between Mosgiel and Port Chalmers, and in Waikouaiti.
A “rugby field-size” portion of Dunedin Harbour near the intersection of Portsmouth Dr and Portobello Rd was covered in ice, and there were burst water pipes in Dunedin homes and businesses on 7 August. Central Dunedin temperatures dropped to -2.3degC and Dunedin Airport recorded a low of -7.1degC.
Snow / Ice
at
Maniototo
There was widespread snow in the Maniototo and Morven Hills areas of Otago
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
Big snowfalls were recorded in inland and elevated areas of Canterbury overnight on 5th August, including Methven, Mt Somers and Lake Tekapo.
NZTA said chains were essential on both the Lewis and Arthur's passes.
Hail
at
Christchurch
Hailstorms caused several road accidents in Christchurch on 5 August.
Southland
Snow / Ice
at
Southland
There was widespread black ice in Southland
References
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.), Newsletter 146, Spring 2016
- Headline: Schools close as snow hits South Island
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 August 2016.
- Headline: Hawke’s Bay to bear brunt of heavy snow, rain warnings for North Island
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 August 2016.
- Headline: Road warnings after south Island snow; clear skies and cold mornings to come
- www.stuff.co.nz, 6 August 2016.
- Headline: Polar blast could mean more power cuts
- www.radionz.co.nz, 7 August 2016.
- Headline: Washed out road severs rural Hawke’s Bay community from outside world – again.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 7 August 2016.
- Headline: Province chilled to the bone.
- www. odt.co.nz, 8 August 2016.
- Headline: Ice danger as snow melts on Nth Island roads.
- www.odt.co.nz, 9 August 2016.
- Headline: Big freeze lingers, snow leaves power poles ‘broken like twigs’.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 9 August 2016.
- Headline: Wintry blast could prove expensive for businesses, households.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 9 August 2016.
August 2016 New Zealand Cold Snap ( 2016-08-03 )
A very cold spell of weather from 3-11 August brought snow to low levels in the east of the South Island, and a severe snowstorm hit areas on the Napier-Taupo Highway. Later in the period there was heavy rain and flooding in some northern North Island areas.
North Island
Snow / Ice
at
North Island
The wild weather brought down about 150 33kV poles, and about 50 11kV poles across the Taupo Plains. Power outages affected 40,000 properties in Napier, Hastings, Gisborne and Wairoa. About 400 rural properties across Hawke's Bay remained without power for several days, and it took up to a week to reconnect them all.
The Napier-Taupo Road was closed for five consecutive days because of heavy snow up to about one metre deep. The Desert Road was also closed because of heavy snow.
Households went through $4 million of extra power over the weekend (6-7 August) as the polar blast sent temperatures plummeting across the country. Consumption around the country surged by 15 gigawatt-hours compared to the previous weekend. In particular, the Lower North Island saw a big increase in power use.
Hawke's Bay
Snow / Ice
at
Hawke’s Bay
MetService estimated 70cm of snow had fallen in parts of Hawke's Bay on 7 August.
Heavy Rain
at
Te Pohue
Heavy rain washed out a section of McVicar Rd, off the Napier-Taupo highway north of Te Pohue, on 6 August. The washout cut road access to and from State Highway 5 for several farming families and a holiday park. The McVicar Rd residents also lost their power and phone lines during the extreme weekend weather.
Gisborne
Multi Hazard
at
Gisborne City
Gisborne town centre had effectively shut down due to the power cut and wild weather conditions.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Dunedin City
All Dunedin primary and intermediate schools, and kindergartens, were closed for the day on 5 August. The closure affected schools between Mosgiel and Port Chalmers, and in Waikouaiti.
A “rugby field-size” portion of Dunedin Harbour near the intersection of Portsmouth Dr and Portobello Rd was covered in ice, and there were burst water pipes in Dunedin homes and businesses on 7 August. Central Dunedin temperatures dropped to -2.3degC and Dunedin Airport recorded a low of -7.1degC.
Snow / Ice
at
Maniototo
There was widespread snow in the Maniototo and Morven Hills areas of Otago
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
Big snowfalls were recorded in inland and elevated areas of Canterbury overnight on 5th August, including Methven, Mt Somers and Lake Tekapo.
NZTA said chains were essential on both the Lewis and Arthur's passes.
Hail
at
Christchurch
Hailstorms caused several road accidents in Christchurch on 5 August.
Southland
Snow / Ice
at
Southland
There was widespread black ice in Southland
References
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.), Newsletter 146, Spring 2016
- Headline: Schools close as snow hits South Island
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 August 2016.
- Headline: Hawke’s Bay to bear brunt of heavy snow, rain warnings for North Island
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 August 2016.
- Headline: Road warnings after south Island snow; clear skies and cold mornings to come
- www.stuff.co.nz, 6 August 2016.
- Headline: Polar blast could mean more power cuts
- www.radionz.co.nz, 7 August 2016.
- Headline: Washed out road severs rural Hawke’s Bay community from outside world – again.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 7 August 2016.
- Headline: Province chilled to the bone.
- www. odt.co.nz, 8 August 2016.
- Headline: Ice danger as snow melts on Nth Island roads.
- www.odt.co.nz, 9 August 2016.
- Headline: Big freeze lingers, snow leaves power poles ‘broken like twigs’.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 9 August 2016.
- Headline: Wintry blast could prove expensive for businesses, households.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 9 August 2016.