Snow fell on the Desert Road overnight on the 12th.

The weather situation on the 12th dragged up very cold southerlies over the South Island.

SH1 was closed between Ashburton and Oamaru by snow. Parts of SH6 and SH8 were closed by snow.

The Tranz Alpine Express from Christchurch to Greymouth was stopped by a landslip or washout on the 11th and was cancelled on the 12th due to snow on the Midland rail line.

It was the coldest June since 1972 and in parts of the South Island it was the coldest in 50 years.

The South Island had at least nine days where -10 DegC or lower was recorded.

From the 11th June till the 18th June.

The snowstorm was a result of a rapidly deepening depression moving from the Tasman Sea southeastward across New Zealand, with a strong moist northwesterly air stream ahead and a very cold southerly airflow behind. The depression's central pressure fell by 20 hPa between midnight on the 10th June and midnight on the 11th June. The resulting intense vertical motion in the northwest flow ahead of the fronmt associated with the depression led to heavy precipitation over the surface low. The very cold air uncutting the front from the southwest meant the precipitation fell as snow rather than rain.

It was the most destructive winter blast New Zealand had ever seen.

The minimum air temperatures were 10C or lower in parts of inland South Canterbury and/or North Otago on nine days between the 14th and the 29th of June.

Insurance Industry Payouts: $42.5 million (2006). The claims covered damage to domestic and commercial properties, business interruption, marine property, motor vehicles, and crops.

There were over 11000 residential home and contents claims.

Residential home and contents claims were worth $21 million.

There were 3000 commercial claims.

Commercial claims were worth $4.21 million.

There were 426 motor vehicle claims.

Motor vehicle claims were worth $1 million.

There were 179 business interruption claims.

Business interruption claims were worth $750,000.

The insurance costs of the South Island storms of June were $43.91 million - the third most expensive single weather event to date.

A snowstorm hit Mid and South Canterbury on the 12th.

The weight of snow and ice destroyed more than 500 power poles around the region, cutting power to 35,000 homes and businesses. Between 5000 and 8000 properties west of Rolleston and Weedons were without power. 1000 to 1500 properties still without power in South Canterbury on the 16th and about 3000 were without power in Mid Canterbury. On the 21st, 800 homes went into their 10th day without power. 33 families without power for 10 days were moved into motels on the 11th day, paid for by Timaru District Council. Many people without power for two weeks.

There were telephone and internet problems when the power went out and cellphone tower batteries were down. Parts of South Canterbury were without phone lines for 3 weeks.

Water supplies and sewage plants were down due to the loss of power.

Roofs caved in under the weight of snow. Some woolsheds and shelter belts collapsed under the weight of the snow.

SH1 between Ashburton and Timaru was closed. SH8 between Timaru and Lake Tekapo was closed on the 12th with no alternative route available. SH77 was closed on the 12th (between Ashburton and the junction with SH73). SH79 was closed on the 12th (between Fairlie and the junction with SH1). SH80 was closed on the 12th (between Mount Cook and the junction with SH8). SH82 was closed (between Kurow and the junction with SH1).

Snow on SH1 south of Christchurch was 15 cm deep in places.

Most schools throughout Canterbury were closed on the 12th. Businesses were closed and workers were kept at home by snow. There was a loss of dairy production because cows couldn't be milked.

Medical machines for some people were down. Elderly people were shifted into rest homes as they only had electric heating.

Stock losses were severe.

Damage to crops was severe. Snow covered some crops for more than two weeks. Forage crops were damaged by snow, meaning farmers had to use supplementary feed at two or three times the normal rate.

The snowstorm dumped about 25 cm of snow throughout Canterbury overnight on the 11th.

The Canterbury Plains received 30-60 cm of snow.

Postal deliveries were cancelled in Timaru, Ashburton and Rangiora because of heavy snow.

With colder than normal temperatures experienced, snow was slow to melt. On the inland plains it lasted for a fortnight.

Snowfall was extreme in areas south of the Rakaia River. The Canterbury plains and foothills south of the Rakaia River produced a greater snow depth than the 1973 and 1967 snowstorms. Snow depths were similar to the 1945 snowstorm. Some locals in rural communities said it was the worst snowfall since 1943.

The insurance industry received 23,000 claims throughout Canterbury.

The insurance industry paid out $52 million throughout Canterbury, mainly in South Canterbury. (2007 dollars??) It was the most expensive snow storm since the Insurance Council was formed in the early 1960s.

There was more than $150 million in property damage and economic loss in South Canterbury.

Alpine Energy had a $4 million repair bill.

Telecom had $3 million worth of repairs and upgrades to the network.

Transit NZ had a $490,000 bill for its 570 km of South Canterbury highways.

Timaru District Council had $2 million dollars worth of road clearing and repairs, with $400,000 to $500,000 needed to clean up and replant parks and reserves.

The MetService failed to warn of heavy snow to sea level in Canterbury, until there was already half a metre lying on the ground.

Amberley received 10-15 cm of snow.

Arundel received 40 cm of snow.

Ashburton received 38 cm of snow - its greatest maximum snow depth on record.

Farmers and rural communities around and inland of Ashburton were the hardest hit.

A house in Ashburton burned to the ground on the 16th because fire services couldn't reach it due to the snow.

Snow was reported to be falling in Banks Peninsula on the afternoon of the 12th.

Snowfalls of 32 cm were recorded in Burnham on the 12th.

Christchurch had 5-15 cm of snow, with an average fall of 10 cm.

The Port Hills received 10-15 cm of snow.

Snow continued to fall steadily in parts of Christchurch late on the afternoon of the 12th.

Schools and some businesses in Christchurch were closed.

Christchurch Airport was closed from 8:30am until 1:30pm on the 12th, affecting thousands of travellers. Near blizzard conditions were reported.

Some rural and city bus services were cancelled on the 12th.

Only limited mail and courier deliveries were made in Christchurch on the 12th.

Darfield received 40 cm of snow.

Fairlie received 80 cm of snow, and there were reports of snow up to 90 cm deep.

Geraldine received 40-50 cm of snow.

Snowfalls of 30 cm were recorded in Kirwee on the 12th.

Lake Tekapo received 50 cm of snow.

Lewis Pass was closed due to snow problems at Springs Junction on the 12th.

Lincoln received 10-15 cm of snow.

Lincoln University was forced to cancel examinations for almost 1000 students on the 12th because of the weather.

Mesopotamia received 70 cm of snow.

Methven received 55 cm of snow.

The New Zealand Mountain Safety Council issued an extreme avalanche danger warning for the Mt Cook region.

The Hermitage received 50 cm of snow.

Mt Hutt received 85 cm of snow.

Strong winds closed Mt Hutt, with winds gusting up to 100 km/hr.

Mt Peel received 45 cm of snow.

Oxford received 15 cm of snow.

Porter's Pass on SH73 was closed by snow.

Rakaia received 30 cm of snow.

Snowfalls of 25-30 cm were recorded at Rolleston on the 12th.

Sheffield received 50 cm of snow.

Tara Hills near Omarama had a minimum temperature of -14 DegC on the 14th - the lowest overnight temperature since records began in 1950.

Temuka received 30 cm of snow.

Timaru received 30 cm of snow.

Schools in Timaru were closed.

A number of power lines were down in Timaru.

Timaru had a big frost on the morning of the 13th, which made driving conditions dangerous.

SH1 from Dunedin to Waitati was closed on the 13th.

There was some snow in Dunedin on the morning of the 13th, which then froze, making driving treacherous. The northern motorway was closed.

Some bus services were affected and a number of Dunedin schools had a delayed start.

Lindis Pass on SH8 was closed by snow.

A car skidded on an icy road and landed upside down in Otago Harbour.

Schools in Palmerston were closed on the 13th.