NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
December 2004 New Zealand Hail 1
(
2004-12-17
)
A cold snap brought thunderstorms with hail to many parts of New Zealand, causing significant damage to crops.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 17th to the 19th of December.
Low-pressure systems south of the Chathams. The unusual weather was caused by an outbreak of very cold air from near the Antarctic ice sheet.
Hail, lightning and thunderstorms lashed many parts of the country.
Hail damaged apple crops, reducing export earnings for orchardists by $3.4 million.
North Island
Hail
at
North Island
Strawberry crops were damaged in the North Island, causing prices in some stores to nearly double.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell in the Central North Island, dusting the Desert Road, central mountains and Kaimanawa Ranges.
South Island
Snow / Ice
at
South Island
Snow fell to 600 m in several places in the South Island.
Northland
Hail
at
Waitawa Hill
Severe hail was experienced in areas around Waitawa on the 18th.
Crops and gardens were damaged.
The hail was described as severe.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Auckland was pelted by hail and rain on the 18th and 19th.
Auckland reached a low of 9C.
Hail
Hail stones ruined fruit in Auckland. Minor damage was done to pipfruit.
The hail was described as damaging.
The hail stones were 5 mm (0.5 cm) in diamater.
There was a blanket of white hail on Auckland's Southern Motorway on the morning of the 19th.
Hail
at
Coatesville
Strawberries were hit in the Coatesville area.
Lightning
at
Glen Innes
Lightning struck a house in Glen Innes on the night of the 18th, causing a fire in the ceiling and blowing up sound equipment.
Hail
at
Kumeu
Plums and apples were superficially damaged by heavy hail in Kumeu.
Hail
at
Otara
An intense burst of hail settled between East Tamaki Road and Te Irirangi Drive.
Waikato
Hail
at
Waikato
Wairarapa and Waikato lost 50,000-70,000 pipfruit cartons from the hail in December.
Hail
at
Port Waikato
On the morning of the 19th, the Port Waikato beach was covered in hail so thick some residents said they could have been at Mt Ruapehu.
Lightning
Heavy thunder and lightning storms accompanied the hail.
Multi Hazard
at
Taupo
Computer network problems caused by wintry weather meant many shoppers from Taupo north couldn’t buy lotto tickets on the 18th.
Hawke's Bay
Hail
at
Hawke's Bay
Hail stones ruined fruit in Hawke's Bay.
The hail was described as damaging.
The hail stones were 5 mm (0.5 cm) in diamater.
Wellington
Hail
at
Wellington
Wairarapa and Waikato lost 50,000-70,000 pipfruit cartons from the hail in December.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Cook Strait
Cook Strait ferries were delayed by heavy swells. A 7pm sailing of the Lynx ferry was cancelled on 19th.
There were swells of up to 8m.
Tasman-Nelson
Hail
at
Tasman-Nelson
Hail stones ruined fruit in Tasman. In fruit growing areas west of Nelson (Tasman and Mariri), 80% of crops were affected. The equivalent of 200,000 cartons of apples were damaged in the Tasman district.
The hail was described as damaging.
The hail stones were 5 mm (0.5 cm) in diamater.
Hail fell in Golden Bay, Riwaka, Waimea Plains and along the Richmond foothills to Atawhai on the 18th.
Damage in the Nelson area was said to be slight. Nelson lost 250,000 pipfruit cartons.
Canterbury
Hail
at
Canterbury
Hail caused damage in South Canterbury on the 17th.
The hail stones were 15-20 mm (1.5-2.0 cm) in diameter or the size of a big marble.
Hail
at
Pleasant Point
Homes at Pleasant Point were flooded due to gutters being blocked by hail on the 17th.
The water was several centimeters deep.
From Pleasant Point to Winchester, hail damaged raspberry and strawberry crops, wheat barley, peas and potatoes.
The hail storm lasted 10-15 minutes.
Hail
at
Winchester
Hail shattered glasshouses at Winchester.
Trees were stripped.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Coronet Peak Skifield
Coronet Peak received 10 cm of snow.
References
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924-1986 and 1991-2006, Source: OBS.
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924-1986 and 1991-2006, Source: Press.
- Headline: Cool temperatures worry berry growers.
- The Nelson Mail, 20 December 2004.
- Headline: Hail in Auckland as icy weather hits the country.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Herald on Sunday and Newstalk ZB, 19 December 2004.
- Headline: Sun is back on Christmas Day.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 20 December 2004.
- Headline: Chilly spell hits summer fruit.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 21 December 2004.
- Headline: Hail takes toll on fruit.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 30 December 2004.
- Headline: Hail and frosts hit apple exports.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 6 January 2005.
December 2004 New Zealand Hail 1
(
2004-12-17
)
A cold snap brought thunderstorms with hail to many parts of New Zealand, causing significant damage to crops.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 3 days - From the 17th to the 19th of December.
Low-pressure systems south of the Chathams. The unusual weather was caused by an outbreak of very cold air from near the Antarctic ice sheet.
Hail, lightning and thunderstorms lashed many parts of the country.
Hail damaged apple crops, reducing export earnings for orchardists by $3.4 million.
North Island
Hail
at
North Island
Strawberry crops were damaged in the North Island, causing prices in some stores to nearly double.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell in the Central North Island, dusting the Desert Road, central mountains and Kaimanawa Ranges.
South Island
Snow / Ice
at
South Island
Snow fell to 600 m in several places in the South Island.
Northland
Hail
at
Waitawa Hill
Severe hail was experienced in areas around Waitawa on the 18th.
Crops and gardens were damaged.
The hail was described as severe.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Auckland was pelted by hail and rain on the 18th and 19th.
Auckland reached a low of 9C.
Hail
Hail stones ruined fruit in Auckland. Minor damage was done to pipfruit.
The hail was described as damaging.
The hail stones were 5 mm (0.5 cm) in diamater.
There was a blanket of white hail on Auckland's Southern Motorway on the morning of the 19th.
Hail
at
Coatesville
Strawberries were hit in the Coatesville area.
Lightning
at
Glen Innes
Lightning struck a house in Glen Innes on the night of the 18th, causing a fire in the ceiling and blowing up sound equipment.
Hail
at
Kumeu
Plums and apples were superficially damaged by heavy hail in Kumeu.
Hail
at
Otara
An intense burst of hail settled between East Tamaki Road and Te Irirangi Drive.
Waikato
Hail
at
Waikato
Wairarapa and Waikato lost 50,000-70,000 pipfruit cartons from the hail in December.
Hail
at
Port Waikato
On the morning of the 19th, the Port Waikato beach was covered in hail so thick some residents said they could have been at Mt Ruapehu.
Lightning
Heavy thunder and lightning storms accompanied the hail.
Multi Hazard
at
Taupo
Computer network problems caused by wintry weather meant many shoppers from Taupo north couldn’t buy lotto tickets on the 18th.
Hawke's Bay
Hail
at
Hawke's Bay
Hail stones ruined fruit in Hawke's Bay.
The hail was described as damaging.
The hail stones were 5 mm (0.5 cm) in diamater.
Wellington
Hail
at
Wellington
Wairarapa and Waikato lost 50,000-70,000 pipfruit cartons from the hail in December.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Cook Strait
Cook Strait ferries were delayed by heavy swells. A 7pm sailing of the Lynx ferry was cancelled on 19th.
There were swells of up to 8m.
Tasman-Nelson
Hail
at
Tasman-Nelson
Hail stones ruined fruit in Tasman. In fruit growing areas west of Nelson (Tasman and Mariri), 80% of crops were affected. The equivalent of 200,000 cartons of apples were damaged in the Tasman district.
The hail was described as damaging.
The hail stones were 5 mm (0.5 cm) in diamater.
Hail fell in Golden Bay, Riwaka, Waimea Plains and along the Richmond foothills to Atawhai on the 18th.
Damage in the Nelson area was said to be slight. Nelson lost 250,000 pipfruit cartons.
Canterbury
Hail
at
Canterbury
Hail caused damage in South Canterbury on the 17th.
The hail stones were 15-20 mm (1.5-2.0 cm) in diameter or the size of a big marble.
Hail
at
Pleasant Point
Homes at Pleasant Point were flooded due to gutters being blocked by hail on the 17th.
The water was several centimeters deep.
From Pleasant Point to Winchester, hail damaged raspberry and strawberry crops, wheat barley, peas and potatoes.
The hail storm lasted 10-15 minutes.
Hail
at
Winchester
Hail shattered glasshouses at Winchester.
Trees were stripped.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Coronet Peak Skifield
Coronet Peak received 10 cm of snow.
References
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924-1986 and 1991-2006, Source: OBS.
- Catalogue of Severe Hail Storms, 1924-1986 and 1991-2006, Source: Press.
- Headline: Cool temperatures worry berry growers.
- The Nelson Mail, 20 December 2004.
- Headline: Hail in Auckland as icy weather hits the country.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Herald on Sunday and Newstalk ZB, 19 December 2004.
- Headline: Sun is back on Christmas Day.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 20 December 2004.
- Headline: Chilly spell hits summer fruit.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 21 December 2004.
- Headline: Hail takes toll on fruit.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 30 December 2004.
- Headline: Hail and frosts hit apple exports.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 6 January 2005.