NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
June 2006 North Island Snow ( 2006-06-17 )
North Island high country was affected by snow, and parts of the North Island experienced high winds, lightning and heavy rain. There were widespread road closures and power cuts in the Central North Island. More wintry conditions were experienced in Canterbury and Otago after the previous snowstorm.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 8 days - From the 17th to the 24th of June.
A depression lay north-east of the North Island. A very strong, cold south-east flow was over Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.
North Island
High Wind / Gust
at
North Island
A breezy blast hit the North Island on the 19th.
Snow / Ice
From the 17th to the 24th the Central North Island experienced several snow falls to relatively low levels.
Snow started to fall to 800m on the 17th.
Heavier snowfalls on the 18th closed roads. There were widespread road closures in the Central Plateau and Hawke's Bay due to ice and snow down to 500m. Hundreds of motorists were stranded. State Highway 1 on the Desert Road was closed between Rangipo and Waiouru on the 22nd and 23rd due to snow. State Highway 2 from Gisborne to Opotiki and from Gisborne to Wairoa was closed, State Highway 5 from Taupo and Eskdale was closed on the 22nd and 23rd, and State Highway 38 between Wairoa to Bay of Plenty was closed. State Highway 47 was closed between National Park (Manawatu-Wanganui) and the junction with State Highway 41 (Waikato) due to snow. The only route open between Wellington and Auckland on the 23rd was State Highway 3 through Taranaki.
The snow was widespread again by the 22nd, and that night it was snowing as far north as Taupo.
Southbound bus services from Auckland to Wellington were forced to detour via Napier on the 22nd. Two buses slid off roads. On the 23rd, InterCity cancelled one-third of its North Island bus services due to treacherous road conditions, affecting up to 1000 passengers. The only services running from Auckland to Wellington were via New Plymouth.
The Napier-Taupo Road was coated in snow half a metre (50 cm) thick.
Flooding
Heavy surface flooding closed State Highway 2 from Gisborne to Wairoa.
Auckland
Lightning
at
Westlake
Lightning struck North Shore Hospital on the 17th, cutting off power and forcing it to use a back-up generator.
Some telephones were cut off after the 8:30am lightning strike.
Three Westlake houses were damaged. One house chimney exploded, the fireplace blew out, and wiring was fried.
the lightning strike hit a Westlake Girls' High School sports ground, and sparks flew from spectators' umbrellas.
Waikato
Snow / Ice
at
Kaimai Range
On the 19th snow was observed down to 500 m on the Kaimai Ranges.
Snow / Ice
at
Taupo
Snow was reported around Taupo on the night of the 22nd.
Bay of Plenty
High Wind / Gust
at
Bay of Plenty
The winds damaged power lines in Bay of Plenty on the 19th.
Multi Hazard
at
Rotorua
Rotorua had a daytime maximum temperature of only 5.9C on the 19th. This was one of its coldest days on record, the coldest since June 1976.
Snow / Ice
at
Ruatahuna
Ruatahuna in Urewera National Park was isolated by the storm on the 23rd.
A 4-year-old girl had to be airlifted to hospital from the settlement.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tauranga
The wind brought down trees in Tauranga on the 19th.
Gisborne
High Wind / Gust
at
Gisborne
The wind damaged powerlines in Gisborne on the 19th. On the 23rd, high winds damaged several high voltage power lines in the Gisborne area. The area was reliant on generation from Waikaremoana until it could be reconnected.
Trees blocked several roads around Gisborne on the 23rd.
Winds gusted to 70 km/hr.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell down to 500m in the mountain ranges inland from Gisborne between the 22nd and 24th.
Flooding
The snow turned to rain on the 23rd, bringing a lot of surface flooding along the East Coast Road.
Heavy Rain
Rain hit Gisborne and Hawke's Bay early on the morning of the 23rd.
Areas around Gisborne received 100 mm (10.0 cm) of rain on the 23rd.
Landslide
State Highway 35 between Ruatoria and Te Puia Springs was blocked by a slip.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne City
Gisborne recorded 54 mm (5.4 cm) of rain on the 23rd.
Snow / Ice
at
Matawai
There were snowfalls near Matawai and inland from Gisborne on the 23rd.
Six heavy trucks became stuck in the Matawai Gorge on State Highway 2 due to snow, and had to be led out by a grader on the morning of the 23rd.
Lightning
at
Te Araroa
A telecommunications mast in Te Araroa was struck by lightning at about 10am on the 23rd, cutting phone lines to 600 homes. Poor weather and safety concerns delayed repairs.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tolaga Bay
There were power outages north of Tolaga Bay.
Hawke's Bay
Multi Hazard
at
Hawke's Bay
Roads were blocked by slips and heavy snowfalls.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell down to 500m in the mountain ranges inland from Hawke's Bay between the 22nd and 24th
About 100 motorists were packed into the Te Pohue Hotel on the Napier-Taupo Road on the night of the 22nd after they were stuck when a logging truck jack-knifed in icy conditions.
There were numerous power cuts to homes and farms in the high country.
State Highway 2 was closed south of Gisborne on the 22nd due to snow on parts of the highway in northern Hawke's Bay. It was reopened on the 23rd.
Heavy Rain
Rain hit Gisborne and Hawke's Bay early on the morning of the 23rd.
Hawke's Bay recorded 68 mm (6.8 cm) of rain on the 19th (NIWA).
Hawke's Bay recorded 55 mm (5.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 23rd (NIWA).
Hawke's Bay recorded about 70 mm (7.0 cm) of rain in 12 hours on the 23rd (MetService).
High Wind / Gust
at
Elsthorpe
The wind damaged an antenna in Elsthorpe on the 23rd, cutting a further 60 home phone lines.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mahia
There were power outages to Mahia.
Snow / Ice
at
Tuai
State Highway 38 at Tuai was closed by snow.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wairoa
There were power outages to Wairoa.
Taranaki
High Wind / Gust
at
Taranaki
Winds damaged powerlines in Taranaki on the 19th.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell in Taranaki on the 22nd.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow / Ice
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow fell at an estimated 10 cm an hour during the day on the 22nd.
State Highway 1 between Waiouru and Taihape, State Highway 4 between Taumarunui and Raetihi, and State Highway 49 between Ohakune and Waiouru were closed due to snow.
Landslide
State Highway 4 between Raetihi and Wanganui was closed on the 23rd due to a landslip.
Snow / Ice
at
Horopito
A bus skidded off State Highway 4 in a whiteout at Horopito on the 22nd. Passengers were trapped for 45 minutes while the bus hung over a bank.
Snow / Ice
at
Ohakune
Schools at Ohakune sent pupils and staff home on the 22nd due to the snow.
Ohakune was cut off by snow on the 22nd.
Snow / Ice
at
Raetihi
Schools at Raetihi sent pupils and staff home on the 22nd due to the snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Taihape
Schools at Taihape sent pupils and staff home on the 22nd due to the snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Waiouru
Waiouru was cut off by snow on the 22nd.
There was about 15 cm of snow on the ground.
Waiouru had a 20-minute power cut on the afternoon of the 22nd.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington
Gale-force winds buffeted Wellington on the 22nd.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Cook Strait
Cook Strait ferries were delayed by an hour on the 22nd due to heavy seas.
There were 4-metre swells inCook Strait.
Landslide
at
Karori
A minor slip closed the Karori tunnel for a time.
Flooding
at
Paraparaumu
There was heavy rain with surface flooding in Paraparaumu on the 18th.
Heavy Rain
Paraparaumu Airport recorded 15 mm (1.45 cm) of rain in 20 minutes on the 18th.
Snow / Ice
at
Rimutaka Hill
Ice closed the Rimutaka Hill road on the 22nd.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Fairlie
Fairlie recorded a temperature of -13C on the 20th - the second-lowest temperature for June on record.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Dunedin
Temperatures plummeted to -6 DegC in Dunedin on the 20th.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
Temperatures plummeted to -6 DegC in Queenstown on the 20th.
References
- Headline: Snow blankets city and surrounding hills.
- www.dailypost.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- Johnston, D.D.; Pearse, L.J. (2007). Hazards in Hawke's Bay. Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Napier, New Zealand.
- Natural Hazards 2006. Hazards Summary, Snow, hail and electrical storms, p27.
- Headline: Anger as big freeze worsens.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 18 June 2006.
- Headline: Latest on roads, weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, NZPA and MetService, 23 June 2006.
- Headline: Weather misery continues.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald, NZPA and Daily Post, 23 June 2006.
- Headline: Blizzards likely to ease today.
- The New Zealand Herald, 24 June 2006.
- Headline: Young girl airlifted from cut-off settlement.
- The New Zealand Herald, 24 June 2006.
- Headline: Coldest June since 1972, with more snow set for holidays.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 3 July 2006.
- www.thunderstorm.co.nz. New Zealand Weather Reports - Snowfalls over Central North Island: 17-24 June 2006.
June 2006 North Island Snow ( 2006-06-17 )
North Island high country was affected by snow, and parts of the North Island experienced high winds, lightning and heavy rain. There were widespread road closures and power cuts in the Central North Island. More wintry conditions were experienced in Canterbury and Otago after the previous snowstorm.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 8 days - From the 17th to the 24th of June.
A depression lay north-east of the North Island. A very strong, cold south-east flow was over Gisborne and Hawke's Bay.
North Island
High Wind / Gust
at
North Island
A breezy blast hit the North Island on the 19th.
Snow / Ice
From the 17th to the 24th the Central North Island experienced several snow falls to relatively low levels.
Snow started to fall to 800m on the 17th.
Heavier snowfalls on the 18th closed roads. There were widespread road closures in the Central Plateau and Hawke's Bay due to ice and snow down to 500m. Hundreds of motorists were stranded. State Highway 1 on the Desert Road was closed between Rangipo and Waiouru on the 22nd and 23rd due to snow. State Highway 2 from Gisborne to Opotiki and from Gisborne to Wairoa was closed, State Highway 5 from Taupo and Eskdale was closed on the 22nd and 23rd, and State Highway 38 between Wairoa to Bay of Plenty was closed. State Highway 47 was closed between National Park (Manawatu-Wanganui) and the junction with State Highway 41 (Waikato) due to snow. The only route open between Wellington and Auckland on the 23rd was State Highway 3 through Taranaki.
The snow was widespread again by the 22nd, and that night it was snowing as far north as Taupo.
Southbound bus services from Auckland to Wellington were forced to detour via Napier on the 22nd. Two buses slid off roads. On the 23rd, InterCity cancelled one-third of its North Island bus services due to treacherous road conditions, affecting up to 1000 passengers. The only services running from Auckland to Wellington were via New Plymouth.
The Napier-Taupo Road was coated in snow half a metre (50 cm) thick.
Flooding
Heavy surface flooding closed State Highway 2 from Gisborne to Wairoa.
Auckland
Lightning
at
Westlake
Lightning struck North Shore Hospital on the 17th, cutting off power and forcing it to use a back-up generator.
Some telephones were cut off after the 8:30am lightning strike.
Three Westlake houses were damaged. One house chimney exploded, the fireplace blew out, and wiring was fried.
the lightning strike hit a Westlake Girls' High School sports ground, and sparks flew from spectators' umbrellas.
Waikato
Snow / Ice
at
Kaimai Range
On the 19th snow was observed down to 500 m on the Kaimai Ranges.
Snow / Ice
at
Taupo
Snow was reported around Taupo on the night of the 22nd.
Bay of Plenty
High Wind / Gust
at
Bay of Plenty
The winds damaged power lines in Bay of Plenty on the 19th.
Multi Hazard
at
Rotorua
Rotorua had a daytime maximum temperature of only 5.9C on the 19th. This was one of its coldest days on record, the coldest since June 1976.
Snow / Ice
at
Ruatahuna
Ruatahuna in Urewera National Park was isolated by the storm on the 23rd.
A 4-year-old girl had to be airlifted to hospital from the settlement.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tauranga
The wind brought down trees in Tauranga on the 19th.
Gisborne
High Wind / Gust
at
Gisborne
The wind damaged powerlines in Gisborne on the 19th. On the 23rd, high winds damaged several high voltage power lines in the Gisborne area. The area was reliant on generation from Waikaremoana until it could be reconnected.
Trees blocked several roads around Gisborne on the 23rd.
Winds gusted to 70 km/hr.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell down to 500m in the mountain ranges inland from Gisborne between the 22nd and 24th.
Flooding
The snow turned to rain on the 23rd, bringing a lot of surface flooding along the East Coast Road.
Heavy Rain
Rain hit Gisborne and Hawke's Bay early on the morning of the 23rd.
Areas around Gisborne received 100 mm (10.0 cm) of rain on the 23rd.
Landslide
State Highway 35 between Ruatoria and Te Puia Springs was blocked by a slip.
Heavy Rain
at
Gisborne City
Gisborne recorded 54 mm (5.4 cm) of rain on the 23rd.
Snow / Ice
at
Matawai
There were snowfalls near Matawai and inland from Gisborne on the 23rd.
Six heavy trucks became stuck in the Matawai Gorge on State Highway 2 due to snow, and had to be led out by a grader on the morning of the 23rd.
Lightning
at
Te Araroa
A telecommunications mast in Te Araroa was struck by lightning at about 10am on the 23rd, cutting phone lines to 600 homes. Poor weather and safety concerns delayed repairs.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tolaga Bay
There were power outages north of Tolaga Bay.
Hawke's Bay
Multi Hazard
at
Hawke's Bay
Roads were blocked by slips and heavy snowfalls.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell down to 500m in the mountain ranges inland from Hawke's Bay between the 22nd and 24th
About 100 motorists were packed into the Te Pohue Hotel on the Napier-Taupo Road on the night of the 22nd after they were stuck when a logging truck jack-knifed in icy conditions.
There were numerous power cuts to homes and farms in the high country.
State Highway 2 was closed south of Gisborne on the 22nd due to snow on parts of the highway in northern Hawke's Bay. It was reopened on the 23rd.
Heavy Rain
Rain hit Gisborne and Hawke's Bay early on the morning of the 23rd.
Hawke's Bay recorded 68 mm (6.8 cm) of rain on the 19th (NIWA).
Hawke's Bay recorded 55 mm (5.5 cm) of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on the 23rd (NIWA).
Hawke's Bay recorded about 70 mm (7.0 cm) of rain in 12 hours on the 23rd (MetService).
High Wind / Gust
at
Elsthorpe
The wind damaged an antenna in Elsthorpe on the 23rd, cutting a further 60 home phone lines.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mahia
There were power outages to Mahia.
Snow / Ice
at
Tuai
State Highway 38 at Tuai was closed by snow.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wairoa
There were power outages to Wairoa.
Taranaki
High Wind / Gust
at
Taranaki
Winds damaged powerlines in Taranaki on the 19th.
Snow / Ice
Snow fell in Taranaki on the 22nd.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow / Ice
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
Snow fell at an estimated 10 cm an hour during the day on the 22nd.
State Highway 1 between Waiouru and Taihape, State Highway 4 between Taumarunui and Raetihi, and State Highway 49 between Ohakune and Waiouru were closed due to snow.
Landslide
State Highway 4 between Raetihi and Wanganui was closed on the 23rd due to a landslip.
Snow / Ice
at
Horopito
A bus skidded off State Highway 4 in a whiteout at Horopito on the 22nd. Passengers were trapped for 45 minutes while the bus hung over a bank.
Snow / Ice
at
Ohakune
Schools at Ohakune sent pupils and staff home on the 22nd due to the snow.
Ohakune was cut off by snow on the 22nd.
Snow / Ice
at
Raetihi
Schools at Raetihi sent pupils and staff home on the 22nd due to the snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Taihape
Schools at Taihape sent pupils and staff home on the 22nd due to the snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Waiouru
Waiouru was cut off by snow on the 22nd.
There was about 15 cm of snow on the ground.
Waiouru had a 20-minute power cut on the afternoon of the 22nd.
Wellington
High Wind / Gust
at
Wellington
Gale-force winds buffeted Wellington on the 22nd.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Cook Strait
Cook Strait ferries were delayed by an hour on the 22nd due to heavy seas.
There were 4-metre swells inCook Strait.
Landslide
at
Karori
A minor slip closed the Karori tunnel for a time.
Flooding
at
Paraparaumu
There was heavy rain with surface flooding in Paraparaumu on the 18th.
Heavy Rain
Paraparaumu Airport recorded 15 mm (1.45 cm) of rain in 20 minutes on the 18th.
Snow / Ice
at
Rimutaka Hill
Ice closed the Rimutaka Hill road on the 22nd.
Canterbury
Multi Hazard
at
Fairlie
Fairlie recorded a temperature of -13C on the 20th - the second-lowest temperature for June on record.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Dunedin
Temperatures plummeted to -6 DegC in Dunedin on the 20th.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
Temperatures plummeted to -6 DegC in Queenstown on the 20th.
References
- Headline: Snow blankets city and surrounding hills.
- www.dailypost.co.nz, 7 July 2008.
- Johnston, D.D.; Pearse, L.J. (2007). Hazards in Hawke's Bay. Hawke's Bay Regional Council, Napier, New Zealand.
- Natural Hazards 2006. Hazards Summary, Snow, hail and electrical storms, p27.
- Headline: Anger as big freeze worsens.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 18 June 2006.
- Headline: Latest on roads, weather.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: Newstalk ZB, NZPA and MetService, 23 June 2006.
- Headline: Weather misery continues.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, Source: NZ Herald, NZPA and Daily Post, 23 June 2006.
- Headline: Blizzards likely to ease today.
- The New Zealand Herald, 24 June 2006.
- Headline: Young girl airlifted from cut-off settlement.
- The New Zealand Herald, 24 June 2006.
- Headline: Coldest June since 1972, with more snow set for holidays.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 3 July 2006.
- www.thunderstorm.co.nz. New Zealand Weather Reports - Snowfalls over Central North Island: 17-24 June 2006.