NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 1945 Canterbury Snow and High Winds
(
1945-07-12
)
42 years
Snow fell from the 12th to the 14th of July in Canterbury while a gale sprang up on the 13th. Power, telephone, road and rail lines were all disrupted across Canterbury and there was extensive damage to tree plantations.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
Duration: 3 days - Snow fell from the 12th to the 14th of July in Canterbury while a gale sprang up on the 13th.
High Wind / Gust
The north-wester wind freshened to gale force shortly after 11 am on the 13th. The north-west gales were preceeded by heavy rains and caused major planation losses on the plains.
There was widespread damage in Canterbury by a north-west gale of possibly record velocity.
The main south lines were disrupted between Christchurch and Ashburton. The railway line between Dunsansel and Burnham was blocked by about 200 trees blown down over the line.
For about half an hour, wind speed averaged 55-60 miles an hour (89-97 km/hr).
There were several gusts reaching 90 miles an hour (145 km/hr).
Flights were cancelled.
All telegraph and telephone communication in the Canterbury district were seriously interrupted. There was extensive damaged to telephone networks as a result of broken trees and a few cases of broken poles.
All circuits between Christchurch and the West Coast were interrupted by the gale but telegraph and toll traffic to the West Coast was handled on alternative circuits.
The whole of North Canterbury and the Harewood aerodrome were without power.
Damage was caused to plantations at Carew, Maronan, Longbeach, Rakaia and Pendarves.
Snow / Ice
There were heavy snowfalls, even down to the coastal areas, on the 12th to the 14th of July.
The heavy snowfall was the result of a cold southwesterly airstream combined with a deep depression which formed off the coast of Australia and moved across the South Island on the 13th.
Canterbury Plains recorded up to 45 cm of snow.
The snow storm was similar to the snow storm of 1903 and as bad as 1895 in some places.
There were several broken or bent power and telephone poles.
Power was cut off for about a week.
The farming districts of Canterbury indicated stock losses due to the heavy snowfall on the 14th were considerable. Farmers with early lambs were suffered heavily. One farmer lost 40 sheep.
Damage to trees in the north-west gale which preceded the storm upset shelter arrangements for stock.
Communication via train was not possible beyond Templeton.
Schools under the control of the Canterbury Education Board were closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Ashburton
Ashburton received 30-40 cm of snow. It was described as the heaviest fall in the Ashburton district in 42 years (the heaviest since 1 July 1903).
There was considerable damage caused to plantations throughout the Ashburton County.
The gales were the most severe since November 1944 with speeds between 60-70 miles an hour (97-113 km/hr).
Many railway poles were down particularly between Addington and Ashburton.
The water supply, telephone, electric and railway services were dislocated in Ashburton. The telephone lines throughout the whole of ashburton district gave way under the weight of the snow and the damage of the system became widespread.
Many cars had to be abandoned on the streets.
Ashburton was struck the hardest by the snow storm and the damage was most severe there and further south.
High Wind / Gust
at
Balmoral
On the 13th, 1500 ha of Balmoral Forest and also stands in Eyrewell had scattered damage due to high wind. The stands were aged between 18-20 years.
The maximum wind speed that was reached was 145 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
at
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula was without power.
High Wind / Gust
at
Christchurch
A fierce north-west gale occurred on the 13th.
Acres of millable timber were flattened. Timber stands owned by the Selwyn Planation Board suffered badly, around 200 acres (81 ha) were lost.
The wind speed reached a peak of 90 miles an hour (145 km/hr) near the city.
Trees in many districts were uprooted or snapped.
Telephone circuits north, west and south of the city were interrupted.
Power supply to several districts were interrupted.
Railway signal communications south and west of the city were broken.
Fiece gusts of wind in the suburbs brought down several wireless masts and tore branches from trees.
Many suburban fences were flattened.
More than 5000 subscribers in Christchurch were without telephone connections. Between Christchurch and Timaru approximately 30 miles (48 km) of telephone lines were flattened.
Snow / Ice
Christchurch recorded 30-40 cm of snow. It was the heaviest snowfall ever recorded in Christchurch at this time.
Snow at Christchurch Magnetic Observatory was 11 in (28 cm) deep. This was 4 in (10 cm) more than the previous record snow fall in July 1918.
In Cathedral Square, the snow depth varied from 7-9 in (18-23 cm). In the suburbs, falls of up to 18 in (46 cm) were recorded.
Christchurch was virtually isolated.
All roads and railway lines, with the exception of the railway line to Lyttleton, were blocked.
All long-distance telephone and telegraph lines were down. Electric light wires and telephone wires snapped under the burden of accumulated snow. More than half of Christchurch street lighting was out of order. The full count of affected telephone subscribers was 6500.
City transport services were dislocated.
Small trees and shrubs bent and flattened under the growing weight of the snow.
Postal deliveries in the suburbs were cancelled.
Several shop verandas collapsed under the weight of the snow and many spoutings were torn.
All Christchurch schools were closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Culverden
15 inches (38 cm) of snow fell at Culverden.
Snow / Ice
at
Cust
Near Cust, snow was more than 2.5 ft (76 cm) deep.
Snow / Ice
at
Darfield
Darfield received 40-60 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Geraldine
Geraldine received 30 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Hanmer Springs
Hanmer Springs received 13 in (33 cm) of snow.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hawarden
There was no power at Hawarden and the telephone service was badly disrupted.
Fences, sheds and a large number of trees were blown over.
Snow / Ice
Hawarden received 1.5 to 2 ft of snow (46-61 cm)
The heaviest falls were in the Waikari-Hawarden district.
Multi Hazard
at
Lake Waitaki
The rapid sequence of gale and snow made the storm worse at Waitaki than the storm of 1918.
Snow / Ice
at
Lyttelton
Many telephones in Lyttelton failed and electric power was cut due to the snowfall.
Snow / Ice
at
Methven
Methven and other districts near the foothills received 60-74 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Rangiora
15 inches (38 cm) of snow fell at Rangiora.
400 subscribers were cut off from the Rangiora telephone exchange.
The railway line between Christchurch and Rangiora was blocked.
Snow / Ice
at
Temuka
Temuka received 25 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Timaru
Timaru received 30-40 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Tinwald
Tinwald received 16 in (41 cm) of snow.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waikari
The worst feature of damage in the Waikari and Hawarden district was the complete stripping of sown crops.
Several paddocks sown with wheat on the Waikari Downs had the entire top soil lifted by the wind and the crops were a total loss.
Many outhouses were blown away and the district was without electric power.
Snow / Ice
at
Waipara
From Seagill and Omihi down to Waipara the snowfall averaged 6-7 in (15-18 cm).
At the Waipara railway station, a fall of 18 inches (46 cm) was reported.
References
- Heddrikx, Jordy. (2006). Preliminary analysis of the 12 June 2006 Canterbury snow storm. NIWA..
- Major weather events in New Zealand, SNOWSTORMS to 14th June 2006.
- Headline: Great Gale, Maximum Gust 90 Miles an hr.
- The Press,14 July 1945.
- Headline: Record Snowfall in Christchurch
- The Press,16 July 1945.
- Headline: Losses of Stock
- The Press,17 July 1945.
- Turner, R.M. Canterbury Plains and Lake Taupo Forests
- Workshop on Wind damage in New Zealand Exotic Forests, Ministry of Forestery, FRI Bullrtin 146, Accounting for New Zealand Plantation's Risk to Wind Damage - facing the facts, David New
- Workshop on Wind damage in New Zealand Exotic Forests, Ministry of Forestery, FRI Bullrtin 146, Windthrow on the Canterbury Plains, W.P. Studholme
July 1945 Canterbury Snow and High Winds
(
1945-07-12
)
42 years
Snow fell from the 12th to the 14th of July in Canterbury while a gale sprang up on the 13th. Power, telephone, road and rail lines were all disrupted across Canterbury and there was extensive damage to tree plantations.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Canterbury
Duration: 3 days - Snow fell from the 12th to the 14th of July in Canterbury while a gale sprang up on the 13th.
High Wind / Gust
The north-wester wind freshened to gale force shortly after 11 am on the 13th. The north-west gales were preceeded by heavy rains and caused major planation losses on the plains.
There was widespread damage in Canterbury by a north-west gale of possibly record velocity.
The main south lines were disrupted between Christchurch and Ashburton. The railway line between Dunsansel and Burnham was blocked by about 200 trees blown down over the line.
For about half an hour, wind speed averaged 55-60 miles an hour (89-97 km/hr).
There were several gusts reaching 90 miles an hour (145 km/hr).
Flights were cancelled.
All telegraph and telephone communication in the Canterbury district were seriously interrupted. There was extensive damaged to telephone networks as a result of broken trees and a few cases of broken poles.
All circuits between Christchurch and the West Coast were interrupted by the gale but telegraph and toll traffic to the West Coast was handled on alternative circuits.
The whole of North Canterbury and the Harewood aerodrome were without power.
Damage was caused to plantations at Carew, Maronan, Longbeach, Rakaia and Pendarves.
Snow / Ice
There were heavy snowfalls, even down to the coastal areas, on the 12th to the 14th of July.
The heavy snowfall was the result of a cold southwesterly airstream combined with a deep depression which formed off the coast of Australia and moved across the South Island on the 13th.
Canterbury Plains recorded up to 45 cm of snow.
The snow storm was similar to the snow storm of 1903 and as bad as 1895 in some places.
There were several broken or bent power and telephone poles.
Power was cut off for about a week.
The farming districts of Canterbury indicated stock losses due to the heavy snowfall on the 14th were considerable. Farmers with early lambs were suffered heavily. One farmer lost 40 sheep.
Damage to trees in the north-west gale which preceded the storm upset shelter arrangements for stock.
Communication via train was not possible beyond Templeton.
Schools under the control of the Canterbury Education Board were closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Ashburton
Ashburton received 30-40 cm of snow. It was described as the heaviest fall in the Ashburton district in 42 years (the heaviest since 1 July 1903).
There was considerable damage caused to plantations throughout the Ashburton County.
The gales were the most severe since November 1944 with speeds between 60-70 miles an hour (97-113 km/hr).
Many railway poles were down particularly between Addington and Ashburton.
The water supply, telephone, electric and railway services were dislocated in Ashburton. The telephone lines throughout the whole of ashburton district gave way under the weight of the snow and the damage of the system became widespread.
Many cars had to be abandoned on the streets.
Ashburton was struck the hardest by the snow storm and the damage was most severe there and further south.
High Wind / Gust
at
Balmoral
On the 13th, 1500 ha of Balmoral Forest and also stands in Eyrewell had scattered damage due to high wind. The stands were aged between 18-20 years.
The maximum wind speed that was reached was 145 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
at
Banks Peninsula
Banks Peninsula was without power.
High Wind / Gust
at
Christchurch
A fierce north-west gale occurred on the 13th.
Acres of millable timber were flattened. Timber stands owned by the Selwyn Planation Board suffered badly, around 200 acres (81 ha) were lost.
The wind speed reached a peak of 90 miles an hour (145 km/hr) near the city.
Trees in many districts were uprooted or snapped.
Telephone circuits north, west and south of the city were interrupted.
Power supply to several districts were interrupted.
Railway signal communications south and west of the city were broken.
Fiece gusts of wind in the suburbs brought down several wireless masts and tore branches from trees.
Many suburban fences were flattened.
More than 5000 subscribers in Christchurch were without telephone connections. Between Christchurch and Timaru approximately 30 miles (48 km) of telephone lines were flattened.
Snow / Ice
Christchurch recorded 30-40 cm of snow. It was the heaviest snowfall ever recorded in Christchurch at this time.
Snow at Christchurch Magnetic Observatory was 11 in (28 cm) deep. This was 4 in (10 cm) more than the previous record snow fall in July 1918.
In Cathedral Square, the snow depth varied from 7-9 in (18-23 cm). In the suburbs, falls of up to 18 in (46 cm) were recorded.
Christchurch was virtually isolated.
All roads and railway lines, with the exception of the railway line to Lyttleton, were blocked.
All long-distance telephone and telegraph lines were down. Electric light wires and telephone wires snapped under the burden of accumulated snow. More than half of Christchurch street lighting was out of order. The full count of affected telephone subscribers was 6500.
City transport services were dislocated.
Small trees and shrubs bent and flattened under the growing weight of the snow.
Postal deliveries in the suburbs were cancelled.
Several shop verandas collapsed under the weight of the snow and many spoutings were torn.
All Christchurch schools were closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Culverden
15 inches (38 cm) of snow fell at Culverden.
Snow / Ice
at
Cust
Near Cust, snow was more than 2.5 ft (76 cm) deep.
Snow / Ice
at
Darfield
Darfield received 40-60 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Geraldine
Geraldine received 30 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Hanmer Springs
Hanmer Springs received 13 in (33 cm) of snow.
High Wind / Gust
at
Hawarden
There was no power at Hawarden and the telephone service was badly disrupted.
Fences, sheds and a large number of trees were blown over.
Snow / Ice
Hawarden received 1.5 to 2 ft of snow (46-61 cm)
The heaviest falls were in the Waikari-Hawarden district.
Multi Hazard
at
Lake Waitaki
The rapid sequence of gale and snow made the storm worse at Waitaki than the storm of 1918.
Snow / Ice
at
Lyttelton
Many telephones in Lyttelton failed and electric power was cut due to the snowfall.
Snow / Ice
at
Methven
Methven and other districts near the foothills received 60-74 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Rangiora
15 inches (38 cm) of snow fell at Rangiora.
400 subscribers were cut off from the Rangiora telephone exchange.
The railway line between Christchurch and Rangiora was blocked.
Snow / Ice
at
Temuka
Temuka received 25 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Timaru
Timaru received 30-40 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Tinwald
Tinwald received 16 in (41 cm) of snow.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waikari
The worst feature of damage in the Waikari and Hawarden district was the complete stripping of sown crops.
Several paddocks sown with wheat on the Waikari Downs had the entire top soil lifted by the wind and the crops were a total loss.
Many outhouses were blown away and the district was without electric power.
Snow / Ice
at
Waipara
From Seagill and Omihi down to Waipara the snowfall averaged 6-7 in (15-18 cm).
At the Waipara railway station, a fall of 18 inches (46 cm) was reported.
References
- Heddrikx, Jordy. (2006). Preliminary analysis of the 12 June 2006 Canterbury snow storm. NIWA..
- Major weather events in New Zealand, SNOWSTORMS to 14th June 2006.
- Headline: Great Gale, Maximum Gust 90 Miles an hr.
- The Press,14 July 1945.
- Headline: Record Snowfall in Christchurch
- The Press,16 July 1945.
- Headline: Losses of Stock
- The Press,17 July 1945.
- Turner, R.M. Canterbury Plains and Lake Taupo Forests
- Workshop on Wind damage in New Zealand Exotic Forests, Ministry of Forestery, FRI Bullrtin 146, Accounting for New Zealand Plantation's Risk to Wind Damage - facing the facts, David New
- Workshop on Wind damage in New Zealand Exotic Forests, Ministry of Forestery, FRI Bullrtin 146, Windthrow on the Canterbury Plains, W.P. Studholme