NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 2008 New Zealand Cold Snap
(
2008-07-04
)
An icy blast swept up the country, bringing heavy snow to the South Island and Central North Island as well as hail and high winds in many areas.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 4 days - From the 4th to the 7th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 3:41 pm 03-Jul-2008: Heavy snow on the way for parts of Southland and Otago during Friday and Saturday, with severe southwest gales about coastal Otago. another burst of heavy rain for the South Island west coast on Friday. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland and Otago; STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago; and HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the ranges of Westland, Buller and western Nelson.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:09 pm 03-Jul-2008: Winter storm set to hit the South Island. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland, Otago and eastern Canterbury; STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago and eastern Canterbury; and HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the ranges of Westland and Buller. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for: western Nelson.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:34 am 04-Jul-2008: Winter storm set to hit the South Island and heavy snow for the central North Island high country. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland, Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast and the central North Island high country south of Taupo; STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago, eastern Canterbury and the Kaikoura coast; and HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the ranges of Westland and Buller.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 7:56 pm 04-Jul-2008: Severe southwest gales for parts of eastern and southern South Island spreading to Wellington and Wairarapa Saturday evening, snow to low levels in south and east of South Island and snow for the central North Island. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland, Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast,and the central North Island high country south of Taupo; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago, eastern Canterbury, the Kaikoura coast, Wellington and Wairarapa. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for ranges of Westland and Buller.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:57 am 05-Jul-2008: Severe southwest gales for eastern parts of the South Island spreading to Wellington and Wairarapa this evening, heavy snow to low levels in south and east of South Island and about the central North Island. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland, Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast,and the central North Island high country south of Taupo; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast, Wellington and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 10:37 am Saturday 05 July 2008. This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Tararua, Wairarapa and Wellington.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 11:13 am 05-Jul-2008: Severe southwest gales for eastern parts of the South Island spreading to Wellington and Wairarapa this evening and coastal Hawkes Bay and southern Gisborne Sunday morning, heavy snow to low levels in south and east of the South Island and about the central and southern North Island. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland, Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast, the central North Island high country south of Taupo, including the western most hills and ranges of Hawkes Bay, the hills of Wairarapa and eastern hills of Wellington; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast, Wellington, Wairarapa, coastal Hawkes Bay and southern Gisborne.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 03:34 pm Saturday 05 July 2008. This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Tararua, Wairarapa and Wellington.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:16 pm 05-Jul-2008: Severe southwest gales from Banks Peninsula to Wellington spreading north to southern Gisborne overnight. Heavy snow has eased in Southland and Otago and easing overnight in eastern Canterbury. Further snow for central and southern North Island hills and ranges. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: eastern Canterbury, the Kaikoura coast, the central North Island high country south of Taupo, including the western most hills and ranges of Hawkes Bay, the hills of Wairarapa and eastern hills of Wellington; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Canterbury, the Kaikoura coast, Wellington, Wairarapa, coastal Hawkes Bay and southern Gisborne. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Snowfall Warnings lifted for: Southland and Otago.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:31 am 06-Jul-2008: Gales and winds easing but further snow showers about central North Island this morning. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: the hills of Wairarapa and eastern Wellington and the central North Island plateau; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Wellington, coastal Wairarapa and the Hawkes Bay coast south of Cape Kidnappers. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Snowfall Warnings lifted for eastern Canterbury and the Kaikoura coast; and Strong Wind Warnings lifted for Banks Peninsula, the Kaikoura coast, Hawkes Bay north of Wairoa, Mahia Penisula and southern Gisborne .
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:59 pm 06-Jul-2008: WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Snowfall Warnings lifted for hills of eastern Wairarapa and eastern Wellington and the central North Island plateau; and Strong Wind Warnings lifted for Wellington, coastal Wairarapa and the Hawkes Bay coast south of Cape Kidnappers.
On the 4th, an active trough crossed New Zealand, with a low forming to the southeast of the South Island by later in the day. This was followed by a very cold outbreak over both islands. By the 5th, a deep low was lying to the southeast. By the 6th, the low had moved away but a cold south to southwest flow remained over the country until the 8th.
A polar blast brought hail stones as big as marbles, sleet, snow, gale-force winds and rain to the country on the 5th.
More than 400 accidents happened around New Zealand during the 4th and 5th and 7 searches were mounted.
Heavy Rain
There were heavy squally showers in western and southern areas on the 4th.
Lightning
The Weather Watch Centre's lightning radar recorded almost 3,000 lightning strikes on the 5th, most of them in Taranaki.
North Island
Multi Hazard
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North Island
On the 5th, heavy showers, thunderstorms and hail lashed exposed western areas.
Heavy rain, sleet and icy conditions were reported on roads in the lower North Island not normally known for these sorts of conditions.
Snow / Ice
All roads around Mount Ruapehu were closed by snow on the 5th.
The Napier to Taihape road was closed on the 5th and reopened on the morning of the 7th.
During the 5th, there was some snow at around the 800 m level on the Kaimai Ranges between Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
SH29 through the Kaimai Ranges, between Tirau/Matamata and Tauranga, was closed at about 7:30pm on the 5th with ice and sleet. It reopened at 8am on the 7th. More than 20 motorists got stuck in snow and ice on the road and cars had been backed up for 4 km.
SH1 was closed for a time from Hunterville (south of Taihape) to Rangipo.
SH4 between Taumarunui and Wanganui was closed due to snow on the 6th and reopened on the 7th. It was closed between Wanganui and Raetihi on the 7th due to snow and land slips.
Heavy snowfalls blanketed the Central Plateau as far south as Hunterville on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
Gales in Wellington and along the east coast of the North Island reached speeds of up to 130 km/hr in exposed places.
South Island
Snow / Ice
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South Island
Heavy snow fell around the main divide and Southern Lakes on the 4th.
Several Southland and Otago roads were closed by snow on the night of the 4th, including SH93 between Clinton and Mataura and SH8 between Omarama and Tarras.
Schools were closed early in Southland and West Otago as heavy snow started to fall on the afternoon of the 4th.
Most main roads in the South Island were either closed or to be driven with care.
Much of Central Otago, coastal Otago, Canterbury and Southland were under snow on the morning of the 5th. Snow fell to sea level in some areas. On the 6th, the snow had eased through much of the South Island but there were still snow flurries around the Kaikoura Ranges and in inland Otago and Southland.
All the alpine passes were closed on the morning of the 5th, except Arthurs Pass where chains were essential.
It was one of the worst snow storms in years in the South Island.
High Wind / Gust
Police warned drivers to take extreme care along SH1 between Blenheim and Kaikoura due to high winds.
Winds up to 55 knots (102 km/hr) blasted coastal areas on the 5th.
Northland
Multi Hazard
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Northland
Strong winds combined with thunderstorms produced hail, gales and possibly even a few flakes of snow in Northland on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
Trees and powerlines were brought down in the wind and road cones were scattered like skittles.
Houses in Dargaville and Kerikeri needed assistance from the Fire Service with keeping their roofs on in the high winds.
The MetService recorded force 9 winds on Northland's West Coast - winds speeds from 76-87 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
at
Aranga
Powerful gusts tore a roof off a new home on Hood Rd, 34 km northwest of Dargaville, at about 4pm on the 5th and tossed it 400m away down a gully.
High Wind / Gust
at
Cape Reinga
Winds of 126 km/hr blasted Cape Reinga on the afternoon of the 5th. The wind came in gusts lasting up to 15 minutes, followed by a lull then more strong gusts.
Multi Hazard
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Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded a low of 5degC at 11pm on the 5th.
Multi Hazard
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Kaitaia
Kaitaia recorded a low of 8degC at 6pm on the 5th.
Multi Hazard
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Whangarei
Temperatures dropped to 6degC in Whangarei at 7pm on the 5th. It was below 8degC for most of the day.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
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Auckland
Unusually cold temperatures hit the region, along with a battering by thunderstorms, hail and strong winds.
Temperatures in Auckland fell to just 6degC at lunchtime on the 5th (11degC reported in another source).
High Wind / Gust
Winds reached more than 80 km/hr in Auckland on the 5th.
Houses in Auckland needed assistance from the Fire Service with keeping their roofs on in the high winds.
Snow / Ice
Auckland police received a lot of calls overnight (5th/6th) from motorists who had either crashed or were reporting treacherous driving conditions, with some roads coated in ice. At least 3 minor accidents were weather-related.
Lightning
A plane was struck by lightning as it climbed out of Auckland in atrocious weather.
Hail
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Auckland City
Hail showers lashed Auckland city on the morning of the 5th and a cold sou'wester was blowing.
Tornado
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Flat Bush
A tornado damaged about a dozen houses, ripped off roof tiles and flattened fences in Flat Bush at about 11:45am on the 5th. It may have been the same one that hit Mangere earlier in the day. Most of the damage was done to houses in Plantation Place, but there was also damage in Mazuron Pl, Bishop Lenihan Pl and Stancombe Rd.
Tornado
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Mangere
A small tornado hit Mangere on the 5th.
Waikato
Snow / Ice
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Waikato
Icy conditions made driving treacherous on the region's roads.
SH47 between National Park and Tokaanu was closed due to snow on the 6th, reopening at 8pm. SH41 between Manunui and Kuratau Junction was still closed because of snow and ice on the 7th.
Snow / Ice
at
Coromandel Range
Snow reached the tops of the Coromandel Ranges during the 5th and fell in the hills around Paeroa and Waihi.
Snow / Ice
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Karangahake
SH2 at Karangahake was closed and it reopened on the morning of the 7th.
Snow / Ice
at
Mt Te Aroha
Eyewitness reports confirmed snow had fallen to about 800 m on Mt Te Aroha on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
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National Park
There were multiple crashes on the 5th in the National Park area.
Snow / Ice
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Taupiri
SH1B at Taupiri was closed and it reopened on the morning of the 7th.
Snow / Ice
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Taupo
Snow fell in Taupo.
The body of a teenage boy (14 years) was found in a hockey ground in Taupo on the morning of the 6th. Freezing temperatures of around -2degC on the night of the 5th were a "significant contributor" to his death.
Snow / Ice
at
Tokoroa
There was a 15-minute snow flurry in Tokoroa about 2pm on the 5th. It was the first time the chief fire officer had seen snow in the town since moving there in 1989.
Snow / Ice
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Waihi
There were two separate crashes on SH2 between Waikino and Waihi on the morning of the 7th, both caused by patches of ice on the road. In one accident a van rolled.
Bay of Plenty
Snow / Ice
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Bay of Plenty
Ice formed on roads in the Bay of Plenty. Black ice led to minor accidents on the Tauranga Direct Rd.
Snow / Ice
at
Rotorua
Snow fell in Rotorua at the weekend for just the 5th time in 44 years. It blanketed properties and streets as well as hills surrounding the city and encircled almost the entire Rotorua basin on the morning of the 6th. Snow fell for more than 12 hours at a Tarawera Rd property.
Daytime temperatures reached a maximum of 6degC on the 5th. It was one of the coldest days recorded since 1964 when the weather station was set up.
10 cm of snow accumulated on outdoor tables at Skyline Skyrides.
Black ice on the roads led to at least 8 crashes around Rotorua.
Three people suffered injuries and were treated at Rotorua Hospital after a van, a campervan and another vehicle collided near the entrance to Tamaki Maori Village on SH5, south of the city, at 10am on the 6th.
Snow / Ice
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Tikitere
Black ice led to minor accidents near Tikitere.
Taranaki
Snow / Ice
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Taranaki
The entire Taranaki region was blasted by a bitter cold front on the 5th. It produced an icy dump in the south and violent hail storms in other areas. The weather hit at 10am and the effects lasted until 1:30pm.
SH3 between Kakaramea and Manutahi was closed for about 2 hrs on the 5th due a hail storm and icy conditions. Up to 200 vehicles were stuck waiting for the road to be cleared.
SH3 between Kakaramea and Manutahi and Upper Manutahi Rd were coated in up to 20 cm of ice. A resident said he hadn't seen aything like it in the 30 years he had been in the area.
Snow / Ice
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New Plymouth
Sleet was reported in New Plymouth on the 5th.
Hail
On the 5th, New Plymouth reported hails stones bigger than some locals could remember. Streets and lawns turned white after hail fell for up to 20 minutes during the afternoon.
Snow / Ice
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North Egmont
Deep snow closed the road to North Egmont Visitor Centre on the 6th.
Snow / Ice
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Tongaporutu
An accident in Tongaporutu was attributed to the freeze.
Snow / Ice
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Uruti
Two cars came to grief on black ice at Uruti early on the 5th.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow / Ice
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Manawatu-Wanganui
SH1 between Hunterville and Taihape was closed on the 5th.
Driving conditions were extremely hazardous in the Wanganui and Manawatu areas.
Snow fell in places in the region that don't usually see snow, such as Waitotara, Feilding, Kimbolton and Foxton.
Temperatures dropped as low as -9degC during the weekend.
The region was covered up to half a metre in snow.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain and sleet in the Manawatu area made driving conditions extremely difficult.
Snow / Ice
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Apiti
An Apiti dairy farmer reported snow of about 6 or 7 inches (15-17 cm) thick and said the snowfall at Apiti was among the heaviest he had ever seen.
Snow / Ice
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Desert Road
The Desert Road (SH1) was closed by snow in the early hours of the 5th. It was reopened on the morning of the 7th.
The Desert Road received a 20-cm dumping of snow on the 6th.
Snow / Ice
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Erua
There was a crash at Erua on SH4 involving 9 vehicles on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
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Feilding
Ice was reported on roads in the Feilding area on the 5th, with 6 crashes occurring in and around Feilding.
Landslide
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Fields Track
SH4 beween Wanganui and Raetihi was closed near Fields Track on the 6th because of a large slip which fell across the road at about 6am. The slip covered the whole road and contained several large trees.
Snow / Ice
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Foxton
On the 5th, it was the first time locals had seen snow on the Foxton straights for many years.
Snow / Ice
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Kimbolton
Ice was reported on roads in the Kimbolton area on the 5th.
Tornado
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Levin
A small tornado caused some damage near Levin before dawn.
Snow / Ice
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Mangaweka
Hundreds of vehicles queued to get over a hill on SH1 near Mangaweka, after snow turned the road into an ice ring.
Snow / Ice
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Ohakune
Ohakune had the heaviest snowfall for 5 years.
The town was cut off by snow for much of the weekend.
Snow / Ice
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Palmerston North
Sleet was reported in Palmerston North on the 5th.
Hail
There was a hailstorm in New Plymouth on the morning of the 5th, which came in waves and stayed on the ground for hours. The worst affected areas were Fitzherbert, Hokowhitu, Awapuni, Riverdale and the Central City.
About 10 cm of hail fell in parts of Palmerston North. Dittmer Drive was covered in about 6 cm of hail.
Hail stones were reported bigger than some locals could remember. Streets and lawns turned white after hail fell for up to 20 minutes during the afternoon.
Multi Hazard
Ice on the road caused a number of accidents around Palmerston North , with 5 accidents reported between 10 and 11am following a huge deluge of hail.
Heavy Rain
Rain led to the abandonment on the 5th of the Marton Jockey Club's race meeting at Awapuni in Palmerston North.
Snow / Ice
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Ruapehu district
SH4 between Ohakune and National Park and SH49 between Ohakune and Waiouru were closed on the 5th and reopened on the morning of the 7th.
Strong southwesterly winds drove snow up through the Central Plateau overnight (5th/6th).
SH1 was closed between Rangipo and Taihape due ice on the 5th and heavy snow on the morning of the 6th.
Heavy snow remained on the Desert Road and National Park sides of Mt Ruapehu on the 7th.
Snow / Ice
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Taihape
There was a five-car pile-up on Peters Hill, just out of Taihape, on the 5th.
Multi Hazard
at
Taumarunui
Taumarunui recorded a minimum temperature of -5 degC in the early hours of the 7th.
Snow / Ice
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Waiouru
Waiouru was completely cut off during the weekend, with all roads in and out shut because of snow and ice.
There was almost 30 cm of snow on the ground at Waiouru on the 6th. A Waiouru resident said she had not seen such a heavy dumping of snow since the 1990s.
A farm just south of Waiouru reported snow 35 cm deep early on the morning of the 6th.
Waiouru recorded a maximum temperature of 1 degC on the 6th.
Waiouru reached a minimum temperature of -9 degC on the night of the 6th.
Multi Hazard
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Wanganui
Snow, hail and sleet were reported falling in parts of Wanganui on the 5th. Ice was reported on roads in the Wanganui area.
Hail
A major hailstorm around 6am on the 5th caused road accidents in the city.
Lightning
There was a big lightning and thunderstorm early on the morning of the 6th.
Maritime / Coastal
At Castlecliff beach, there were mountainous seas, whipped up by a strong south-west wind. Large pieces of pumice and driftwood were flung well beyond the high tide mark. The sea was so high the beach was inaccessible.
Waves as high as 5 m were reported at Castlecliff beach over the weekend.
A shed in Gonville was lifted off the ground and flew into two neighbouring backyards about 4am on the 5th. A piece broke off and ricocheted off one house and on to the new car, causing minor damage. The shed travelled about 10m and was lifted over a 3-metre-high garage. Possibly a mini-tornado.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
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Wellington
Heavy rain and poor visibility were making driving conditions treacherous in the greater Wellington region on the evening of the 4th, particularly in the Kapiti-Mana area.
Snow / Ice
Sleet was reported in Wellington on the 5th.
SH2 (Rimutaka Hill Rd) between Upper Hutt and the Wairarapa was closed on the 5th due to snow on the Rimutaka Hills. 12 cars got stuck in the snow. About 8am on the 6th, a bus blocked both lanes of the Rimutaka Hill Rd on the southern side after sliding on ice and becoming wedged across both lanes, unable to move. The road was closed, and reopened just before midday.
Temperatures in Wellington fell to 10degC at lunchtime on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
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Cook Strait
Two Cook Strait ferry services were cancelled on the 5th because of strong winds. Interisland ferry services were also cancelled on the morning of the 6th due to gale force winds in Cook Strait.
Waves in Cook Strait were up to 10 m.
High Wind / Gust
at
Lower Hutt
Strong wind gusts toppled 2 lamp-posts on the Hutt road and SH4 in Lower Hutt on the 6th.
Firefighters were called to an Alicetown house to secure a lifting roof.
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington City
Rain was pouring into Wellington until midday on the 6th.
Marlborough
Snow / Ice
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Blenheim
SH63 at Blenheim was closed on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Rainbow Skifield
Rainbow Ski area had 10 cm of snow overnight.
Tasman-Nelson
Snow / Ice
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Tasman-Nelson
Higher roads in the Nelson area were closed overnight on the 4th.
Snow / Ice
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Bushline Hut
Two trampers caught in a whiteout were rescued near the Bushline Hut in the Nelson Lakes area about 10am on the 5th. They were walking towards the hut when they beame unable to see the track because of heavy snow.
Snow / Ice
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Hope Saddle
Snow closed the Hope Saddle on SH6 on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
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Murchison
A rescue helicopter had to collect a sick child who was trapped in Murchison when roads were closed by snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Nelson city
The hills surrounding Nelson got a light dusting of snow overnight (4th/5th), with a few cms settled on the ground in places on the morning of the 5th. Snow fell to about 300m, with an air temperature of 1degC at daybreak.
Snow / Ice
at
St Arnaud
Snow closed SH63 through St Arnaud on the 5th.
West Coast
Maritime / Coastal
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Carters Beach
High seas combined with big tides chomped up to 15m off the Carters Beach foreshore at the weekend. The gravel road parallel to the beach was undermined in places and the section between the Carters Beach Hall and Golf Links Rd was closed on the 5th. Some conifers were also uprooted by the sea.
The Carters Beach Domain Board secretary said the seas were the biggest he had ever seen there.
Multi Hazard
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Hokitika
Hokitika recorded a minimum of -3 degC on the morning of the 6th - a July record.
Snow / Ice
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Springs Junction
SH65 at Springs Junction was closed by snow on the night of the 4th, as was SH7 each side of Springs Junction. Snow closed the Shenandoah between Murchison and Springs Junction on SH65 on the 5th.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
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Canterbury
SH73 between Porters Pass and Otira was closed to towing vehicles and chains were essential from the morning of the 5th until the 7th. SH8 between Fairlie and Tekapo was closed to towing vehicles and chains were essential from the morning of the 5th until the 6th.
Vehicles became stranded on the night of the 4th on SH73 west of Springfield (Porters Pass) because of snow.
Heavy snow was reported inland from Christchurch.
Flooding
SH7 between the Hanmer Springs intersection and Maruia Spings (Lewis Pass) was closed late on the 6th after the Waiau River washed it out about 8km west of the Hanmer Springs intersection. The flooded river cut into the bank beneath the road and a whole lane was washed away. It was opened with one lane on the evening of the 7th.
Multi Hazard
High winds, heavy, rain, sleet and snow brought power lines down across Canterbury. Orion New Zealand recorded power outages across the region.
Snow / Ice
at
Arthurs Pass
It was still snowing at Arthurs Pass at lunchtime on the 7th.
Snow / Ice
at
Ashburton
There were reports of snow in Ashburton on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Banks Peninsula
Snow in the Christchurch area forced the closure on the 5th of the main road to Akaroa (SH75) and the Summit Road.
High Wind / Gust
Banks Peninsula was affected by several small blackouts.
Snow / Ice
at
Christchurch
Snow, sleet and hail battered Christchurch from about midday on the 5th.
The temperature in Christchurch fell from 7degC to just 1degC in a little over an hour on the morning of the 5th and was 2degC at around 1:30pm.
Leopard Coachlines closed all its bus services on the 5th and Red Bus and CBS were limiting their services to flat areas.
Snow fell to sea-level at a Christchurch beach.
High Wind / Gust
Winds reached more than 80 km/hr in Christchurch on the 5th.
Strong winds in Christchurch blew down several power poles. Parts of south-east Christchurch lost power for about 3 hours on the night of the 5th.
Flooding
Some streets in New Brighton were closed to traffic on the night of the 4th when the Avon River flooded. New Brighton Rd was closed from Anzac Drive to Pages Rd on the night of the 5th.
More than 30 cm of water submerged New Brighton Rd and lapped at neighbouring sections.
The Heathcote River caused flooding in Richardson and Clarendon Terraces in Woolston and Eastern Tce in St. Martins.
Surface flooding around Christchurch contributed to a higher than usual number of accidents.
The Heathcote River was contaminated with sewage at Beckford Rd just before 6pm on the 5th. Soon after, the pumping stations on the Avon River, at Fendalton Rd and River Rd, buckled under the pressure and discharged. Normal pumping resumed by about 4:30pm on the 6th. The rivers had been flooded by snow and heavy rain.
Snow / Ice
at
Hanmer Springs
SH7 at Hanmer Springs was closed on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Lewis Pass
The Lewis Pass (SH7) was still closed on the 6th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Lyttelton Harbour
High winds caused several boats in Lyttelton Harbour to break from their moorings. In Corsair Bay, one yacht broke free and sank and another was grounded. A yacht was beached in Cass Bay.
Snow / Ice
at
Mount Hutt Skifield
Mount Hutt Skifield had a snow base of 1m.
Snow / Ice
at
Omarama
SH8 through to Omarama was closed on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Springston
The Springston area was blacked out for about 4 hours after a tree fell through a power line.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Otago
Snow in Otago closed roads on the night of the 4th in the Maniototo, Central Otago and Queenstown areas.
Snow closed SH85 between Ranfurly and Alexandra on the night of the 4th.
SH87 from Outram to Middlemarch was closed due to snow from the 5th until 5:30pm on the 6th.
High Wind / Gust
Parts of the Otago coast were experiencing severe gales of up to 110 km/hr on the morning of the 5th.
Multi Hazard
All skifields in Queenstown and Wanaka, except for Treble Cone, were closed on the 5th due to too much wind and blizzard-like conditions.
Snow / Ice
at
Arrrowtown
Roads around Arrowtown were covered with about 30 cm of snow by mid-morning on the 5th. Cars without chains were stuck in snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Cardrona Ski Field
Cardrona Skifield shut early at 3pm on the 4th, forcing a stream of cars down the steep mountain in blizzard conditions.
Cardrona Skifield received about 60 cm of snow over 3 days.
Snow / Ice
at
Clinton
SH93 at Clinton was closed because of snow and ice late on the night of the 4th.
Snow / Ice
at
Coronet Peak Ski Field
Coronet Peak Ski Field received 15 cm of snow on the 5th.
Multi Hazard
at
Dunedin
Dunedin had rain, snow and sleet on the 5th. Firefighters dealt with minor wind- and rain-related incidents.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell to sea level in Dunedin on the 5th.
In Dunedin's hill suburbs there was about 10 cm of snow on the morning of the 5th.
A bus skidded into a kerb on Brockville Rd on the morning fo the 5th.
SH1 out of Dunedin to Waitati was closed for 24 hours from 8am on the 5th due to heavy snow. Other roads out of Duendin were also closed on the 5th.
Three truck-and-trailer units, including one that had jack-knifed, were left stranded at the Leith Saddle overnight after they slid off the highway in snow on the morning of the 5th.
All sports in the city were closed with "blizzard-like conditions".
Dunedin had a high of 4degC on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
Iron was blown off roofs in Dunedin.
Snow / Ice
at
Lindis Pass
Snow was reported to be falling to low levels in the Lindis Pass area on the night of the 4th. The Lindis Pass was closed by snow on the 5th and 6th.
Snow / Ice
at
Lawrence
Snow was reported to be falling to low levels in the Lawrence area on the night of the 4th.
Snow / Ice
at
Maniototo Plain
Snow was reported to be falling to low levels in the Maniototo area on the night of the 4th.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
It was snowing steadily in Queenstown all night (4th/5th). The snow eased off around noon on the 5th.
At least 3 flights were cancelled in and out of Queenstown Airport on the 4th. About 500 people were affected. The airport was closed on the 5th with all flights cancelled by heavy snow and low cloud. altogether, 20 flights were cancelled before 3pm on the 5th. More than 1650 people were affected.
Up to 40 cm of snow covered parts of the Queenstown region on the morning of the 5th.
Several centimeters of snow settled in the town centre on the 5th and about 10 cm settled in Goldfield Heights and Fernhill.
About 20 accidents were reported in Queenstown on the morning of the 5th. There were no serious injuries. At least 8 accidents occurred in less than 2 hours on a 100-m stretch of Greenstone Pl in Fernhill. Two cars collided at the Morven Ferry Rd corner at 6:21am. In Goldfield Heights, a bus slid on a steep hill in snow and was stopped when the driver steered it into a bank where it became stuck at about 11:30am. 20 Korean tourists were trapped inside for at least 30 minutes.
The Crown Terrace was closed on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Remarkables Ski Field
The Remarkables Ski Field received about 25 cm of snow on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Taiaroa Head
At 6pm on the 4th, winds were already gusting to gale force at Taiaroa Head.
Snow / Ice
at
Wanaka
A four-wheel-drive flipped on a patch of ice outside Puzzling World in Wanaka on the morning of the 7th. The woman driver was not seriously injured. The vehicle was damaged.
Southland
Snow / Ice
at
Southland
Snow closed SH94 between Te Anau and Milford from the night of the 4th until 11am on the 6th. Several vehicles were trapped by the heavy snowfall. It was also closed to towing vehicles on the 7th.
It was reported to be snowing heavily in northern Southland.
Roads in northern Southland were closed by snow on the night of the 4th.
Snow / Ice
at
Athol
Athol was still blanketed in snow on the night of the 6th.
Athol had a 30-cm snowfall.
Snow / Ice
at
Gore
Sleet was falling in Gore on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Jollies Hill Pass
A man (80 years) was flown to hospital with serious head injuries after the van he was travelling in rolled 4 times in ice and snow at the bottom of Jollies Hill on SH6 about 1pm on the 4th. The 5 other passengers (54-80 years) suffered mild to moderate injuries.
The crash coincided with a front that dropped sleet and hail in the area.
References
- Headline: Snow blankets city and surrounding hills.
- www.dailypost.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). (2008). Climate summary for Winter 2008. Newsletter 114, September 2008. 9-10
- Headline: Wintry hold tightens.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 14:24.
- Headline: Winter fury nationwide.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 16:32.
- Headline: Winds rip roof off.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Police warn of 'treacherous conditions'.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 4 July 2008, 4:55pm.
- Headline: It's snowing - in the Waikato!.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Weather Watch Centre, 5 July 2008, 1:45pm.
- Headline: Icy weather causing chaos in North Island.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 5 July 2008, 6:50pm.
- Headline: Finally - a respite from the icy blasts.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 6 July 2008, 1:40pm.
- Headline: At last - a break in the weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 7 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Lightning bolt shocks MP.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 7 July 2008, 7:00am.
- Headline: Teenager likely to have frozen to death.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 8 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Here comes the snow.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 4 July 2008, 14:58.
- Headline: Foul weather causes crashes, strandings.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 5 July 2008, 23:08.
- Headline: Snow stops but disruption continues.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 6 July 2008, 16:43.
- Headline: Heavy snow disrupts travel, causes road crashes.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 7 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Heavy snow, gales cause traffic chaos.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 7 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Drivers urged to be vigilant as heavy frosts loom.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 8 July 2008, 6:00am.
- Headline: Gale force winds, snow, hail and heavy rain continue in many parts of New Zealand.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 6:10am.
- Headline: Lower South Island under snow.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 9:46am.
- Headline: Rain, sleet and icy roads in lower North Island.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 10:02am.
- Headline: SH3 closed, vehicles stranded.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 1:12pm.
- Headline: South Island snow storm worst in years.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 3:23pm.
- Headline: Bad weather closes several North Island roads.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 10:08pm.
- Headline: "Stay home" still advised by MetService.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 6 July 2008, 6:10am.
- Headline: Road closures.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 6 July 2008, 9:44am.
- Headline: Road closures.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 6 July 2008, 11:23am.
- Headline: Snow closes South Island roads.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 4 July 2008.
- Headline: Cold front a headache for motorists.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 6 July 2008.
- Headline: Snow starting to melt, roads reopening.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post and NZPA, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Stranded drivers wait for thaw.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post and NZPA, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Snow starting to melt, roads reopening.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post and NZPA, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Ice pelts city, snow on hills.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Snow reaches into Nelson as wild front barrels north.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Nelson Mail and NZPA, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Storm wreaks havoc in south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Frosty finale to storm forecast.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Weekend storm washes out SH7.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: White halo encircles Rotorua.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Rotorua Review, 11 July 2008.
- Headline: Man airlifted from Athol crash.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 5 July 2008.
- Headline: Full-on blizzard shuts skifield.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 5 July 2008.
- Headline: Snow dump causes chaos on roads.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Wild weather continues to lash country.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Sunday News, 6 July 2008.
- Headline: Cold front hits hard.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Sunday Star Times, 6 July 2008.
- Headline: Taranaki turns icy as weather bomb hits.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: The big chill.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Tornado takes Flat Bush by surprise.
- www.times.co.nz, Source: Howick and Botany Times, 9 July 2008.
- Headline: Snowed in from north to south.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, 5 July 2008, 6:42pm.
- Headline: More icy weather to follow.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Reuters, 6 July 2008, 7:25am.
- Headline: Athol township happy with snow.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 6 July 2008, 9:53pm.
- Headline: Road washed away over Lewis Pass.
- tvnz.co.nz, 7 July 2008, 6:43pm.
- Headline: Roads re-open amid winter wonderland.
- tvnz.co.nz, 7 July 2008, 9:32pm.
- Headline: Roads open but conditions dicey.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 8 July 2008, 7:16am.
- Headline: Storms batter district.
- www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Flying shed crashes into neighbours' backyards.
- www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Sea erodes more foreshore.
- www.westportnews.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- MetService Email Lists
July 2008 New Zealand Cold Snap
(
2008-07-04
)
An icy blast swept up the country, bringing heavy snow to the South Island and Central North Island as well as hail and high winds in many areas.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 4 days - From the 4th to the 7th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 3:41 pm 03-Jul-2008: Heavy snow on the way for parts of Southland and Otago during Friday and Saturday, with severe southwest gales about coastal Otago. another burst of heavy rain for the South Island west coast on Friday. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland and Otago; STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago; and HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the ranges of Westland, Buller and western Nelson.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:09 pm 03-Jul-2008: Winter storm set to hit the South Island. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland, Otago and eastern Canterbury; STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago and eastern Canterbury; and HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the ranges of Westland and Buller. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for: western Nelson.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:34 am 04-Jul-2008: Winter storm set to hit the South Island and heavy snow for the central North Island high country. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland, Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast and the central North Island high country south of Taupo; STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago, eastern Canterbury and the Kaikoura coast; and HEAVY RAIN WARNING for: the ranges of Westland and Buller.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 7:56 pm 04-Jul-2008: Severe southwest gales for parts of eastern and southern South Island spreading to Wellington and Wairarapa Saturday evening, snow to low levels in south and east of South Island and snow for the central North Island. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland, Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast,and the central North Island high country south of Taupo; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago, eastern Canterbury, the Kaikoura coast, Wellington and Wairarapa. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Rain Warnings lifted for ranges of Westland and Buller.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:57 am 05-Jul-2008: Severe southwest gales for eastern parts of the South Island spreading to Wellington and Wairarapa this evening, heavy snow to low levels in south and east of South Island and about the central North Island. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland, Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast,and the central North Island high country south of Taupo; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast, Wellington and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 10:37 am Saturday 05 July 2008. This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Tararua, Wairarapa and Wellington.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 11:13 am 05-Jul-2008: Severe southwest gales for eastern parts of the South Island spreading to Wellington and Wairarapa this evening and coastal Hawkes Bay and southern Gisborne Sunday morning, heavy snow to low levels in south and east of the South Island and about the central and southern North Island. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: Southland, Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast, the central North Island high country south of Taupo, including the western most hills and ranges of Hawkes Bay, the hills of Wairarapa and eastern hills of Wellington; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Otago, eastern Canterbury, Kaikoura coast, Wellington, Wairarapa, coastal Hawkes Bay and southern Gisborne.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 03:34 pm Saturday 05 July 2008. This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Tararua, Wairarapa and Wellington.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:16 pm 05-Jul-2008: Severe southwest gales from Banks Peninsula to Wellington spreading north to southern Gisborne overnight. Heavy snow has eased in Southland and Otago and easing overnight in eastern Canterbury. Further snow for central and southern North Island hills and ranges. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: eastern Canterbury, the Kaikoura coast, the central North Island high country south of Taupo, including the western most hills and ranges of Hawkes Bay, the hills of Wairarapa and eastern hills of Wellington; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: eastern Canterbury, the Kaikoura coast, Wellington, Wairarapa, coastal Hawkes Bay and southern Gisborne. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Snowfall Warnings lifted for: Southland and Otago.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:31 am 06-Jul-2008: Gales and winds easing but further snow showers about central North Island this morning. Includes HEAVY SNOW WARNING for: the hills of Wairarapa and eastern Wellington and the central North Island plateau; and STRONG WIND WARNING for: Wellington, coastal Wairarapa and the Hawkes Bay coast south of Cape Kidnappers. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Snowfall Warnings lifted for eastern Canterbury and the Kaikoura coast; and Strong Wind Warnings lifted for Banks Peninsula, the Kaikoura coast, Hawkes Bay north of Wairoa, Mahia Penisula and southern Gisborne .
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:59 pm 06-Jul-2008: WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy Snowfall Warnings lifted for hills of eastern Wairarapa and eastern Wellington and the central North Island plateau; and Strong Wind Warnings lifted for Wellington, coastal Wairarapa and the Hawkes Bay coast south of Cape Kidnappers.
On the 4th, an active trough crossed New Zealand, with a low forming to the southeast of the South Island by later in the day. This was followed by a very cold outbreak over both islands. By the 5th, a deep low was lying to the southeast. By the 6th, the low had moved away but a cold south to southwest flow remained over the country until the 8th.
A polar blast brought hail stones as big as marbles, sleet, snow, gale-force winds and rain to the country on the 5th.
More than 400 accidents happened around New Zealand during the 4th and 5th and 7 searches were mounted.
Heavy Rain
There were heavy squally showers in western and southern areas on the 4th.
Lightning
The Weather Watch Centre's lightning radar recorded almost 3,000 lightning strikes on the 5th, most of them in Taranaki.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
On the 5th, heavy showers, thunderstorms and hail lashed exposed western areas.
Heavy rain, sleet and icy conditions were reported on roads in the lower North Island not normally known for these sorts of conditions.
Snow / Ice
All roads around Mount Ruapehu were closed by snow on the 5th.
The Napier to Taihape road was closed on the 5th and reopened on the morning of the 7th.
During the 5th, there was some snow at around the 800 m level on the Kaimai Ranges between Waikato and Bay of Plenty.
SH29 through the Kaimai Ranges, between Tirau/Matamata and Tauranga, was closed at about 7:30pm on the 5th with ice and sleet. It reopened at 8am on the 7th. More than 20 motorists got stuck in snow and ice on the road and cars had been backed up for 4 km.
SH1 was closed for a time from Hunterville (south of Taihape) to Rangipo.
SH4 between Taumarunui and Wanganui was closed due to snow on the 6th and reopened on the 7th. It was closed between Wanganui and Raetihi on the 7th due to snow and land slips.
Heavy snowfalls blanketed the Central Plateau as far south as Hunterville on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
Gales in Wellington and along the east coast of the North Island reached speeds of up to 130 km/hr in exposed places.
South Island
Snow / Ice
at
South Island
Heavy snow fell around the main divide and Southern Lakes on the 4th.
Several Southland and Otago roads were closed by snow on the night of the 4th, including SH93 between Clinton and Mataura and SH8 between Omarama and Tarras.
Schools were closed early in Southland and West Otago as heavy snow started to fall on the afternoon of the 4th.
Most main roads in the South Island were either closed or to be driven with care.
Much of Central Otago, coastal Otago, Canterbury and Southland were under snow on the morning of the 5th. Snow fell to sea level in some areas. On the 6th, the snow had eased through much of the South Island but there were still snow flurries around the Kaikoura Ranges and in inland Otago and Southland.
All the alpine passes were closed on the morning of the 5th, except Arthurs Pass where chains were essential.
It was one of the worst snow storms in years in the South Island.
High Wind / Gust
Police warned drivers to take extreme care along SH1 between Blenheim and Kaikoura due to high winds.
Winds up to 55 knots (102 km/hr) blasted coastal areas on the 5th.
Northland
Multi Hazard
at
Northland
Strong winds combined with thunderstorms produced hail, gales and possibly even a few flakes of snow in Northland on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
Trees and powerlines were brought down in the wind and road cones were scattered like skittles.
Houses in Dargaville and Kerikeri needed assistance from the Fire Service with keeping their roofs on in the high winds.
The MetService recorded force 9 winds on Northland's West Coast - winds speeds from 76-87 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
at
Aranga
Powerful gusts tore a roof off a new home on Hood Rd, 34 km northwest of Dargaville, at about 4pm on the 5th and tossed it 400m away down a gully.
High Wind / Gust
at
Cape Reinga
Winds of 126 km/hr blasted Cape Reinga on the afternoon of the 5th. The wind came in gusts lasting up to 15 minutes, followed by a lull then more strong gusts.
Multi Hazard
at
Kaikohe
Kaikohe recorded a low of 5degC at 11pm on the 5th.
Multi Hazard
at
Kaitaia
Kaitaia recorded a low of 8degC at 6pm on the 5th.
Multi Hazard
at
Whangarei
Temperatures dropped to 6degC in Whangarei at 7pm on the 5th. It was below 8degC for most of the day.
Auckland
Multi Hazard
at
Auckland
Unusually cold temperatures hit the region, along with a battering by thunderstorms, hail and strong winds.
Temperatures in Auckland fell to just 6degC at lunchtime on the 5th (11degC reported in another source).
High Wind / Gust
Winds reached more than 80 km/hr in Auckland on the 5th.
Houses in Auckland needed assistance from the Fire Service with keeping their roofs on in the high winds.
Snow / Ice
Auckland police received a lot of calls overnight (5th/6th) from motorists who had either crashed or were reporting treacherous driving conditions, with some roads coated in ice. At least 3 minor accidents were weather-related.
Lightning
A plane was struck by lightning as it climbed out of Auckland in atrocious weather.
Hail
at
Auckland City
Hail showers lashed Auckland city on the morning of the 5th and a cold sou'wester was blowing.
Tornado
at
Flat Bush
A tornado damaged about a dozen houses, ripped off roof tiles and flattened fences in Flat Bush at about 11:45am on the 5th. It may have been the same one that hit Mangere earlier in the day. Most of the damage was done to houses in Plantation Place, but there was also damage in Mazuron Pl, Bishop Lenihan Pl and Stancombe Rd.
Tornado
at
Mangere
A small tornado hit Mangere on the 5th.
Waikato
Snow / Ice
at
Waikato
Icy conditions made driving treacherous on the region's roads.
SH47 between National Park and Tokaanu was closed due to snow on the 6th, reopening at 8pm. SH41 between Manunui and Kuratau Junction was still closed because of snow and ice on the 7th.
Snow / Ice
at
Coromandel Range
Snow reached the tops of the Coromandel Ranges during the 5th and fell in the hills around Paeroa and Waihi.
Snow / Ice
at
Karangahake
SH2 at Karangahake was closed and it reopened on the morning of the 7th.
Snow / Ice
at
Mt Te Aroha
Eyewitness reports confirmed snow had fallen to about 800 m on Mt Te Aroha on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
National Park
There were multiple crashes on the 5th in the National Park area.
Snow / Ice
at
Taupiri
SH1B at Taupiri was closed and it reopened on the morning of the 7th.
Snow / Ice
at
Taupo
Snow fell in Taupo.
The body of a teenage boy (14 years) was found in a hockey ground in Taupo on the morning of the 6th. Freezing temperatures of around -2degC on the night of the 5th were a "significant contributor" to his death.
Snow / Ice
at
Tokoroa
There was a 15-minute snow flurry in Tokoroa about 2pm on the 5th. It was the first time the chief fire officer had seen snow in the town since moving there in 1989.
Snow / Ice
at
Waihi
There were two separate crashes on SH2 between Waikino and Waihi on the morning of the 7th, both caused by patches of ice on the road. In one accident a van rolled.
Bay of Plenty
Snow / Ice
at
Bay of Plenty
Ice formed on roads in the Bay of Plenty. Black ice led to minor accidents on the Tauranga Direct Rd.
Snow / Ice
at
Rotorua
Snow fell in Rotorua at the weekend for just the 5th time in 44 years. It blanketed properties and streets as well as hills surrounding the city and encircled almost the entire Rotorua basin on the morning of the 6th. Snow fell for more than 12 hours at a Tarawera Rd property.
Daytime temperatures reached a maximum of 6degC on the 5th. It was one of the coldest days recorded since 1964 when the weather station was set up.
10 cm of snow accumulated on outdoor tables at Skyline Skyrides.
Black ice on the roads led to at least 8 crashes around Rotorua.
Three people suffered injuries and were treated at Rotorua Hospital after a van, a campervan and another vehicle collided near the entrance to Tamaki Maori Village on SH5, south of the city, at 10am on the 6th.
Snow / Ice
at
Tikitere
Black ice led to minor accidents near Tikitere.
Taranaki
Snow / Ice
at
Taranaki
The entire Taranaki region was blasted by a bitter cold front on the 5th. It produced an icy dump in the south and violent hail storms in other areas. The weather hit at 10am and the effects lasted until 1:30pm.
SH3 between Kakaramea and Manutahi was closed for about 2 hrs on the 5th due a hail storm and icy conditions. Up to 200 vehicles were stuck waiting for the road to be cleared.
SH3 between Kakaramea and Manutahi and Upper Manutahi Rd were coated in up to 20 cm of ice. A resident said he hadn't seen aything like it in the 30 years he had been in the area.
Snow / Ice
at
New Plymouth
Sleet was reported in New Plymouth on the 5th.
Hail
On the 5th, New Plymouth reported hails stones bigger than some locals could remember. Streets and lawns turned white after hail fell for up to 20 minutes during the afternoon.
Snow / Ice
at
North Egmont
Deep snow closed the road to North Egmont Visitor Centre on the 6th.
Snow / Ice
at
Tongaporutu
An accident in Tongaporutu was attributed to the freeze.
Snow / Ice
at
Uruti
Two cars came to grief on black ice at Uruti early on the 5th.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow / Ice
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
SH1 between Hunterville and Taihape was closed on the 5th.
Driving conditions were extremely hazardous in the Wanganui and Manawatu areas.
Snow fell in places in the region that don't usually see snow, such as Waitotara, Feilding, Kimbolton and Foxton.
Temperatures dropped as low as -9degC during the weekend.
The region was covered up to half a metre in snow.
Heavy Rain
Heavy rain and sleet in the Manawatu area made driving conditions extremely difficult.
Snow / Ice
at
Apiti
An Apiti dairy farmer reported snow of about 6 or 7 inches (15-17 cm) thick and said the snowfall at Apiti was among the heaviest he had ever seen.
Snow / Ice
at
Desert Road
The Desert Road (SH1) was closed by snow in the early hours of the 5th. It was reopened on the morning of the 7th.
The Desert Road received a 20-cm dumping of snow on the 6th.
Snow / Ice
at
Erua
There was a crash at Erua on SH4 involving 9 vehicles on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Feilding
Ice was reported on roads in the Feilding area on the 5th, with 6 crashes occurring in and around Feilding.
Landslide
at
Fields Track
SH4 beween Wanganui and Raetihi was closed near Fields Track on the 6th because of a large slip which fell across the road at about 6am. The slip covered the whole road and contained several large trees.
Snow / Ice
at
Foxton
On the 5th, it was the first time locals had seen snow on the Foxton straights for many years.
Snow / Ice
at
Kimbolton
Ice was reported on roads in the Kimbolton area on the 5th.
Tornado
at
Levin
A small tornado caused some damage near Levin before dawn.
Snow / Ice
at
Mangaweka
Hundreds of vehicles queued to get over a hill on SH1 near Mangaweka, after snow turned the road into an ice ring.
Snow / Ice
at
Ohakune
Ohakune had the heaviest snowfall for 5 years.
The town was cut off by snow for much of the weekend.
Snow / Ice
at
Palmerston North
Sleet was reported in Palmerston North on the 5th.
Hail
There was a hailstorm in New Plymouth on the morning of the 5th, which came in waves and stayed on the ground for hours. The worst affected areas were Fitzherbert, Hokowhitu, Awapuni, Riverdale and the Central City.
About 10 cm of hail fell in parts of Palmerston North. Dittmer Drive was covered in about 6 cm of hail.
Hail stones were reported bigger than some locals could remember. Streets and lawns turned white after hail fell for up to 20 minutes during the afternoon.
Multi Hazard
Ice on the road caused a number of accidents around Palmerston North , with 5 accidents reported between 10 and 11am following a huge deluge of hail.
Heavy Rain
Rain led to the abandonment on the 5th of the Marton Jockey Club's race meeting at Awapuni in Palmerston North.
Snow / Ice
at
Ruapehu district
SH4 between Ohakune and National Park and SH49 between Ohakune and Waiouru were closed on the 5th and reopened on the morning of the 7th.
Strong southwesterly winds drove snow up through the Central Plateau overnight (5th/6th).
SH1 was closed between Rangipo and Taihape due ice on the 5th and heavy snow on the morning of the 6th.
Heavy snow remained on the Desert Road and National Park sides of Mt Ruapehu on the 7th.
Snow / Ice
at
Taihape
There was a five-car pile-up on Peters Hill, just out of Taihape, on the 5th.
Multi Hazard
at
Taumarunui
Taumarunui recorded a minimum temperature of -5 degC in the early hours of the 7th.
Snow / Ice
at
Waiouru
Waiouru was completely cut off during the weekend, with all roads in and out shut because of snow and ice.
There was almost 30 cm of snow on the ground at Waiouru on the 6th. A Waiouru resident said she had not seen such a heavy dumping of snow since the 1990s.
A farm just south of Waiouru reported snow 35 cm deep early on the morning of the 6th.
Waiouru recorded a maximum temperature of 1 degC on the 6th.
Waiouru reached a minimum temperature of -9 degC on the night of the 6th.
Multi Hazard
at
Wanganui
Snow, hail and sleet were reported falling in parts of Wanganui on the 5th. Ice was reported on roads in the Wanganui area.
Hail
A major hailstorm around 6am on the 5th caused road accidents in the city.
Lightning
There was a big lightning and thunderstorm early on the morning of the 6th.
Maritime / Coastal
At Castlecliff beach, there were mountainous seas, whipped up by a strong south-west wind. Large pieces of pumice and driftwood were flung well beyond the high tide mark. The sea was so high the beach was inaccessible.
Waves as high as 5 m were reported at Castlecliff beach over the weekend.
A shed in Gonville was lifted off the ground and flew into two neighbouring backyards about 4am on the 5th. A piece broke off and ricocheted off one house and on to the new car, causing minor damage. The shed travelled about 10m and was lifted over a 3-metre-high garage. Possibly a mini-tornado.
Wellington
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington
Heavy rain and poor visibility were making driving conditions treacherous in the greater Wellington region on the evening of the 4th, particularly in the Kapiti-Mana area.
Snow / Ice
Sleet was reported in Wellington on the 5th.
SH2 (Rimutaka Hill Rd) between Upper Hutt and the Wairarapa was closed on the 5th due to snow on the Rimutaka Hills. 12 cars got stuck in the snow. About 8am on the 6th, a bus blocked both lanes of the Rimutaka Hill Rd on the southern side after sliding on ice and becoming wedged across both lanes, unable to move. The road was closed, and reopened just before midday.
Temperatures in Wellington fell to 10degC at lunchtime on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Cook Strait
Two Cook Strait ferry services were cancelled on the 5th because of strong winds. Interisland ferry services were also cancelled on the morning of the 6th due to gale force winds in Cook Strait.
Waves in Cook Strait were up to 10 m.
High Wind / Gust
at
Lower Hutt
Strong wind gusts toppled 2 lamp-posts on the Hutt road and SH4 in Lower Hutt on the 6th.
Firefighters were called to an Alicetown house to secure a lifting roof.
Heavy Rain
at
Wellington City
Rain was pouring into Wellington until midday on the 6th.
Marlborough
Snow / Ice
at
Blenheim
SH63 at Blenheim was closed on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Rainbow Skifield
Rainbow Ski area had 10 cm of snow overnight.
Tasman-Nelson
Snow / Ice
at
Tasman-Nelson
Higher roads in the Nelson area were closed overnight on the 4th.
Snow / Ice
at
Bushline Hut
Two trampers caught in a whiteout were rescued near the Bushline Hut in the Nelson Lakes area about 10am on the 5th. They were walking towards the hut when they beame unable to see the track because of heavy snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Hope Saddle
Snow closed the Hope Saddle on SH6 on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Murchison
A rescue helicopter had to collect a sick child who was trapped in Murchison when roads were closed by snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Nelson city
The hills surrounding Nelson got a light dusting of snow overnight (4th/5th), with a few cms settled on the ground in places on the morning of the 5th. Snow fell to about 300m, with an air temperature of 1degC at daybreak.
Snow / Ice
at
St Arnaud
Snow closed SH63 through St Arnaud on the 5th.
West Coast
Maritime / Coastal
at
Carters Beach
High seas combined with big tides chomped up to 15m off the Carters Beach foreshore at the weekend. The gravel road parallel to the beach was undermined in places and the section between the Carters Beach Hall and Golf Links Rd was closed on the 5th. Some conifers were also uprooted by the sea.
The Carters Beach Domain Board secretary said the seas were the biggest he had ever seen there.
Multi Hazard
at
Hokitika
Hokitika recorded a minimum of -3 degC on the morning of the 6th - a July record.
Snow / Ice
at
Springs Junction
SH65 at Springs Junction was closed by snow on the night of the 4th, as was SH7 each side of Springs Junction. Snow closed the Shenandoah between Murchison and Springs Junction on SH65 on the 5th.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
SH73 between Porters Pass and Otira was closed to towing vehicles and chains were essential from the morning of the 5th until the 7th. SH8 between Fairlie and Tekapo was closed to towing vehicles and chains were essential from the morning of the 5th until the 6th.
Vehicles became stranded on the night of the 4th on SH73 west of Springfield (Porters Pass) because of snow.
Heavy snow was reported inland from Christchurch.
Flooding
SH7 between the Hanmer Springs intersection and Maruia Spings (Lewis Pass) was closed late on the 6th after the Waiau River washed it out about 8km west of the Hanmer Springs intersection. The flooded river cut into the bank beneath the road and a whole lane was washed away. It was opened with one lane on the evening of the 7th.
Multi Hazard
High winds, heavy, rain, sleet and snow brought power lines down across Canterbury. Orion New Zealand recorded power outages across the region.
Snow / Ice
at
Arthurs Pass
It was still snowing at Arthurs Pass at lunchtime on the 7th.
Snow / Ice
at
Ashburton
There were reports of snow in Ashburton on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Banks Peninsula
Snow in the Christchurch area forced the closure on the 5th of the main road to Akaroa (SH75) and the Summit Road.
High Wind / Gust
Banks Peninsula was affected by several small blackouts.
Snow / Ice
at
Christchurch
Snow, sleet and hail battered Christchurch from about midday on the 5th.
The temperature in Christchurch fell from 7degC to just 1degC in a little over an hour on the morning of the 5th and was 2degC at around 1:30pm.
Leopard Coachlines closed all its bus services on the 5th and Red Bus and CBS were limiting their services to flat areas.
Snow fell to sea-level at a Christchurch beach.
High Wind / Gust
Winds reached more than 80 km/hr in Christchurch on the 5th.
Strong winds in Christchurch blew down several power poles. Parts of south-east Christchurch lost power for about 3 hours on the night of the 5th.
Flooding
Some streets in New Brighton were closed to traffic on the night of the 4th when the Avon River flooded. New Brighton Rd was closed from Anzac Drive to Pages Rd on the night of the 5th.
More than 30 cm of water submerged New Brighton Rd and lapped at neighbouring sections.
The Heathcote River caused flooding in Richardson and Clarendon Terraces in Woolston and Eastern Tce in St. Martins.
Surface flooding around Christchurch contributed to a higher than usual number of accidents.
The Heathcote River was contaminated with sewage at Beckford Rd just before 6pm on the 5th. Soon after, the pumping stations on the Avon River, at Fendalton Rd and River Rd, buckled under the pressure and discharged. Normal pumping resumed by about 4:30pm on the 6th. The rivers had been flooded by snow and heavy rain.
Snow / Ice
at
Hanmer Springs
SH7 at Hanmer Springs was closed on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Lewis Pass
The Lewis Pass (SH7) was still closed on the 6th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Lyttelton Harbour
High winds caused several boats in Lyttelton Harbour to break from their moorings. In Corsair Bay, one yacht broke free and sank and another was grounded. A yacht was beached in Cass Bay.
Snow / Ice
at
Mount Hutt Skifield
Mount Hutt Skifield had a snow base of 1m.
Snow / Ice
at
Omarama
SH8 through to Omarama was closed on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Springston
The Springston area was blacked out for about 4 hours after a tree fell through a power line.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Otago
Snow in Otago closed roads on the night of the 4th in the Maniototo, Central Otago and Queenstown areas.
Snow closed SH85 between Ranfurly and Alexandra on the night of the 4th.
SH87 from Outram to Middlemarch was closed due to snow from the 5th until 5:30pm on the 6th.
High Wind / Gust
Parts of the Otago coast were experiencing severe gales of up to 110 km/hr on the morning of the 5th.
Multi Hazard
All skifields in Queenstown and Wanaka, except for Treble Cone, were closed on the 5th due to too much wind and blizzard-like conditions.
Snow / Ice
at
Arrrowtown
Roads around Arrowtown were covered with about 30 cm of snow by mid-morning on the 5th. Cars without chains were stuck in snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Cardrona Ski Field
Cardrona Skifield shut early at 3pm on the 4th, forcing a stream of cars down the steep mountain in blizzard conditions.
Cardrona Skifield received about 60 cm of snow over 3 days.
Snow / Ice
at
Clinton
SH93 at Clinton was closed because of snow and ice late on the night of the 4th.
Snow / Ice
at
Coronet Peak Ski Field
Coronet Peak Ski Field received 15 cm of snow on the 5th.
Multi Hazard
at
Dunedin
Dunedin had rain, snow and sleet on the 5th. Firefighters dealt with minor wind- and rain-related incidents.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell to sea level in Dunedin on the 5th.
In Dunedin's hill suburbs there was about 10 cm of snow on the morning of the 5th.
A bus skidded into a kerb on Brockville Rd on the morning fo the 5th.
SH1 out of Dunedin to Waitati was closed for 24 hours from 8am on the 5th due to heavy snow. Other roads out of Duendin were also closed on the 5th.
Three truck-and-trailer units, including one that had jack-knifed, were left stranded at the Leith Saddle overnight after they slid off the highway in snow on the morning of the 5th.
All sports in the city were closed with "blizzard-like conditions".
Dunedin had a high of 4degC on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
Iron was blown off roofs in Dunedin.
Snow / Ice
at
Lindis Pass
Snow was reported to be falling to low levels in the Lindis Pass area on the night of the 4th. The Lindis Pass was closed by snow on the 5th and 6th.
Snow / Ice
at
Lawrence
Snow was reported to be falling to low levels in the Lawrence area on the night of the 4th.
Snow / Ice
at
Maniototo Plain
Snow was reported to be falling to low levels in the Maniototo area on the night of the 4th.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
It was snowing steadily in Queenstown all night (4th/5th). The snow eased off around noon on the 5th.
At least 3 flights were cancelled in and out of Queenstown Airport on the 4th. About 500 people were affected. The airport was closed on the 5th with all flights cancelled by heavy snow and low cloud. altogether, 20 flights were cancelled before 3pm on the 5th. More than 1650 people were affected.
Up to 40 cm of snow covered parts of the Queenstown region on the morning of the 5th.
Several centimeters of snow settled in the town centre on the 5th and about 10 cm settled in Goldfield Heights and Fernhill.
About 20 accidents were reported in Queenstown on the morning of the 5th. There were no serious injuries. At least 8 accidents occurred in less than 2 hours on a 100-m stretch of Greenstone Pl in Fernhill. Two cars collided at the Morven Ferry Rd corner at 6:21am. In Goldfield Heights, a bus slid on a steep hill in snow and was stopped when the driver steered it into a bank where it became stuck at about 11:30am. 20 Korean tourists were trapped inside for at least 30 minutes.
The Crown Terrace was closed on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Remarkables Ski Field
The Remarkables Ski Field received about 25 cm of snow on the 5th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Taiaroa Head
At 6pm on the 4th, winds were already gusting to gale force at Taiaroa Head.
Snow / Ice
at
Wanaka
A four-wheel-drive flipped on a patch of ice outside Puzzling World in Wanaka on the morning of the 7th. The woman driver was not seriously injured. The vehicle was damaged.
Southland
Snow / Ice
at
Southland
Snow closed SH94 between Te Anau and Milford from the night of the 4th until 11am on the 6th. Several vehicles were trapped by the heavy snowfall. It was also closed to towing vehicles on the 7th.
It was reported to be snowing heavily in northern Southland.
Roads in northern Southland were closed by snow on the night of the 4th.
Snow / Ice
at
Athol
Athol was still blanketed in snow on the night of the 6th.
Athol had a 30-cm snowfall.
Snow / Ice
at
Gore
Sleet was falling in Gore on the 5th.
Snow / Ice
at
Jollies Hill Pass
A man (80 years) was flown to hospital with serious head injuries after the van he was travelling in rolled 4 times in ice and snow at the bottom of Jollies Hill on SH6 about 1pm on the 4th. The 5 other passengers (54-80 years) suffered mild to moderate injuries.
The crash coincided with a front that dropped sleet and hail in the area.
References
- Headline: Snow blankets city and surrounding hills.
- www.dailypost.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- Meteorological Society of New Zealand (Inc.). (2008). Climate summary for Winter 2008. Newsletter 114, September 2008. 9-10
- Headline: Wintry hold tightens.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 14:24.
- Headline: Winter fury nationwide.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 16:32.
- Headline: Winds rip roof off.
- www.northernadvocate.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Police warn of 'treacherous conditions'.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 4 July 2008, 4:55pm.
- Headline: It's snowing - in the Waikato!.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Weather Watch Centre, 5 July 2008, 1:45pm.
- Headline: Icy weather causing chaos in North Island.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 5 July 2008, 6:50pm.
- Headline: Finally - a respite from the icy blasts.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 6 July 2008, 1:40pm.
- Headline: At last - a break in the weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald and NZPA, 7 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Lightning bolt shocks MP.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 7 July 2008, 7:00am.
- Headline: Teenager likely to have frozen to death.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 8 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Here comes the snow.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 4 July 2008, 14:58.
- Headline: Foul weather causes crashes, strandings.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 5 July 2008, 23:08.
- Headline: Snow stops but disruption continues.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 6 July 2008, 16:43.
- Headline: Heavy snow disrupts travel, causes road crashes.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 7 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Heavy snow, gales cause traffic chaos.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 7 July 2008, 5:00am.
- Headline: Drivers urged to be vigilant as heavy frosts loom.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 8 July 2008, 6:00am.
- Headline: Gale force winds, snow, hail and heavy rain continue in many parts of New Zealand.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 6:10am.
- Headline: Lower South Island under snow.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 9:46am.
- Headline: Rain, sleet and icy roads in lower North Island.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 10:02am.
- Headline: SH3 closed, vehicles stranded.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 1:12pm.
- Headline: South Island snow storm worst in years.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 3:23pm.
- Headline: Bad weather closes several North Island roads.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 5 July 2008, 10:08pm.
- Headline: "Stay home" still advised by MetService.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 6 July 2008, 6:10am.
- Headline: Road closures.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 6 July 2008, 9:44am.
- Headline: Road closures.
- www.radionz.co.nz, 6 July 2008, 11:23am.
- Headline: Snow closes South Island roads.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 4 July 2008.
- Headline: Cold front a headache for motorists.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 6 July 2008.
- Headline: Snow starting to melt, roads reopening.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post and NZPA, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Stranded drivers wait for thaw.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post and NZPA, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Snow starting to melt, roads reopening.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post and NZPA, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Ice pelts city, snow on hills.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Snow reaches into Nelson as wild front barrels north.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Nelson Mail and NZPA, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Storm wreaks havoc in south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Frosty finale to storm forecast.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Weekend storm washes out SH7.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: White halo encircles Rotorua.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Rotorua Review, 11 July 2008.
- Headline: Man airlifted from Athol crash.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 5 July 2008.
- Headline: Full-on blizzard shuts skifield.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 5 July 2008.
- Headline: Snow dump causes chaos on roads.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Wild weather continues to lash country.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Sunday News, 6 July 2008.
- Headline: Cold front hits hard.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Sunday Star Times, 6 July 2008.
- Headline: Taranaki turns icy as weather bomb hits.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: The big chill.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Tornado takes Flat Bush by surprise.
- www.times.co.nz, Source: Howick and Botany Times, 9 July 2008.
- Headline: Snowed in from north to south.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, 5 July 2008, 6:42pm.
- Headline: More icy weather to follow.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: Reuters, 6 July 2008, 7:25am.
- Headline: Athol township happy with snow.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 6 July 2008, 9:53pm.
- Headline: Road washed away over Lewis Pass.
- tvnz.co.nz, 7 July 2008, 6:43pm.
- Headline: Roads re-open amid winter wonderland.
- tvnz.co.nz, 7 July 2008, 9:32pm.
- Headline: Roads open but conditions dicey.
- tvnz.co.nz, Source: ONE News, 8 July 2008, 7:16am.
- Headline: Storms batter district.
- www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Flying shed crashes into neighbours' backyards.
- www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- Headline: Sea erodes more foreshore.
- www.westportnews.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- MetService Email Lists