NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
July 2011 New Zealand Snowfall
(
2011-07-24
)
Widespread snow in both islands caused much disruption, with many roads closed, many flights to South Island airports cancelled.
New Zealand
Snow / Ice
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - 24-25 July 2011
Roads in the central North Island, the Desert Road, the Napier-Taupo highway, the Rimutaka Hill Road, SH2 between Wairoa and Gisborne , and numerous roads throughout Otago and Southland were closed.
A cold front and strong southerly change brought very cold southerly air over most of New Zealand
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
About 2000 residents in Christchurch and central Canterbury lost power because of snow building up on power lines.
Snow / Ice
at
Christchurch
Parts of Christchurch had 20 cm snow
Christchurch Airport recorded its second coldest day (25 July)
Christchurch Airport was closed for most of 25 July; roads and bridges around the city were closed, much of the city's workforce stayed at home; 1700 Christchurch homes (in Marshlands and Burwood) lost power for at least several hours; bus services in Christchurch City and Waimakariri and Selwyn districts did not run.
Eight people in Christchurch were unjured after falling on ice.
Demolition (earthquake) work in the Christchurch was suspended during the snow.
None of Christchurch's metro bus services ran on 25 July, and none ran after 7 pm on the 26th.
Christchurch City Council's libraries, sports and recreation facilities were closed on July 25.
Wellington
Snow / Ice
at
Wellington City
Snow fell to sea-level in Wellington, including Lampton Quay and The Terrace.
Snow / Ice
at
Rimutaka Hill
About 20 cm of snow fell on the Rimutaka Hill on 25/7/2011, and the road was closed
Snow / Ice
at
Otaki
Snow fell at Otaki Beach.
Waikato
Snow / Ice
at
Taihape
State Highway 1 was closed between Taihape and Rangipo, and Taihape Roda (between Taihape and Hawkes Bay) was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Acacia Bay
Snow blanketed Acacia Bay. A local resident said it was the first time in 17 years that snow had fallen in the area.
Snow / Ice
at
Desert Road
30 cm of new snow fell on the summit of the Desert Road.
Snow / Ice
at
Taupo
State Highway 5 was closed between Taupo and Napier was closed on July 25.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Otago
More than 30 cm of snow had fallen in parts of Otago.
Snow / Ice
at
Palmerston
State Highway 85 between Palmerston and Kyeburn was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown Airport
Queenstown Airport was closed on July 25.
Snow / Ice
at
Outram
State Highway 87 between Outram and Middlemarch was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Lawrence
State Highway 8 between Lawrence and Milton was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
There were several reports of vehicles being stuck in snow. Police advised people to stay indoors if they did not need to travel, but if they had to, to drive to the conditions and fit chains where appropriate.
Southland
Snow / Ice
at
Southland
More than 30 cm of snow had fallen in parts of Southland.
Hawke's Bay
Snow / Ice
at
Nuhaka
State Highway 2 between Nuhaka and Gisborne was closed.
References
- Headline: Snow spotted in central Wellington.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 25 July 2011, 9:53am .
- Headline: Wellington's coldest day on record.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 26 July 2011, 5:00am .
- Headline: Region freezes with big chill.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 26 July 2011, 10:41am .
- Headline: Big freeze: Worst over but disruption remains.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 26 July 2011, 11:27am .
- Headline: Icy blast moves up from the south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 24 July 2011, 10:33am .
- Headline: Wintry blast brings country to a standstill.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 25 July 2011, 12:45pm .
- Headline: Christchurch's new white zone.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 26 July 2011, 5:00am .
- Headline: Icy blast moves up from the south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 24 July 2011, 10:33am .
July 2011 New Zealand Snowfall
(
2011-07-24
)
Widespread snow in both islands caused much disruption, with many roads closed, many flights to South Island airports cancelled.
New Zealand
Snow / Ice
at
New Zealand
Duration: 2 days - 24-25 July 2011
Roads in the central North Island, the Desert Road, the Napier-Taupo highway, the Rimutaka Hill Road, SH2 between Wairoa and Gisborne , and numerous roads throughout Otago and Southland were closed.
A cold front and strong southerly change brought very cold southerly air over most of New Zealand
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
About 2000 residents in Christchurch and central Canterbury lost power because of snow building up on power lines.
Snow / Ice
at
Christchurch
Parts of Christchurch had 20 cm snow
Christchurch Airport recorded its second coldest day (25 July)
Christchurch Airport was closed for most of 25 July; roads and bridges around the city were closed, much of the city's workforce stayed at home; 1700 Christchurch homes (in Marshlands and Burwood) lost power for at least several hours; bus services in Christchurch City and Waimakariri and Selwyn districts did not run.
Eight people in Christchurch were unjured after falling on ice.
Demolition (earthquake) work in the Christchurch was suspended during the snow.
None of Christchurch's metro bus services ran on 25 July, and none ran after 7 pm on the 26th.
Christchurch City Council's libraries, sports and recreation facilities were closed on July 25.
Wellington
Snow / Ice
at
Wellington City
Snow fell to sea-level in Wellington, including Lampton Quay and The Terrace.
Snow / Ice
at
Rimutaka Hill
About 20 cm of snow fell on the Rimutaka Hill on 25/7/2011, and the road was closed
Snow / Ice
at
Otaki
Snow fell at Otaki Beach.
Waikato
Snow / Ice
at
Taihape
State Highway 1 was closed between Taihape and Rangipo, and Taihape Roda (between Taihape and Hawkes Bay) was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Acacia Bay
Snow blanketed Acacia Bay. A local resident said it was the first time in 17 years that snow had fallen in the area.
Snow / Ice
at
Desert Road
30 cm of new snow fell on the summit of the Desert Road.
Snow / Ice
at
Taupo
State Highway 5 was closed between Taupo and Napier was closed on July 25.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Otago
More than 30 cm of snow had fallen in parts of Otago.
Snow / Ice
at
Palmerston
State Highway 85 between Palmerston and Kyeburn was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown Airport
Queenstown Airport was closed on July 25.
Snow / Ice
at
Outram
State Highway 87 between Outram and Middlemarch was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Lawrence
State Highway 8 between Lawrence and Milton was closed.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
There were several reports of vehicles being stuck in snow. Police advised people to stay indoors if they did not need to travel, but if they had to, to drive to the conditions and fit chains where appropriate.
Southland
Snow / Ice
at
Southland
More than 30 cm of snow had fallen in parts of Southland.
Hawke's Bay
Snow / Ice
at
Nuhaka
State Highway 2 between Nuhaka and Gisborne was closed.
References
- Headline: Snow spotted in central Wellington.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 25 July 2011, 9:53am .
- Headline: Wellington's coldest day on record.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Dominion Post, 26 July 2011, 5:00am .
- Headline: Region freezes with big chill.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 26 July 2011, 10:41am .
- Headline: Big freeze: Worst over but disruption remains.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 26 July 2011, 11:27am .
- Headline: Icy blast moves up from the south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 24 July 2011, 10:33am .
- Headline: Wintry blast brings country to a standstill.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 25 July 2011, 12:45pm .
- Headline: Christchurch's new white zone.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 26 July 2011, 5:00am .
- Headline: Icy blast moves up from the south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 24 July 2011, 10:33am .