NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
March 2009 Otago Cold Snap
(
2009-03-10
)
A cold snap with snow, hail and high winds was experienced in Otago and parts of Southland. There was also flooding in places following snow melt.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 4 days - From the 10th to the 13th of March.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 10:58 am 10-Mar-2009: A period of severe gales for eastern parts of the North Island south of Hastings, also about Banks Peninsula. Includes STRONG WIND WARNING for: the eastern North Island from Hastings southwards, also Banks Peninsula.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:53 pm 10-Mar-2009: A period of severe gales for eastern parts of the North Island south of Hastings and also about Banks Peninsula. Includes STRONG WIND WARNING for: the eastern North Island from Hastings southwards, also Banks Peninsula.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:55 am 11-Mar-2009: Severe southwesterly gales about Banks Peninsula until this afternoon, but severe westerlies eased early this morning in the east of the lower North Island. Includes STRONG WIND WARNING for: Banks Peninsula. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Strong Wind Warnings lifted for eastern areas of the North Island from Hastings southwards.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 3:13 pm 11-Mar-2009: Southwest gales about Banks Peninsula now easing. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Strong Wind Warnings lifted for Banks Peninsula.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:08 pm 11-Mar-2009: Severe southwest gales for south Otago and Dunedin during Thursday. Includes STRONG WIND WARNING for: hilltops and exposed coasts of the Clutha and Dunedin areas.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:13 am 12-Mar-2009: Severe southwest gales for areas of Otago during Thursday. Includes STRONG WIND WARNING for: hilltops and exposed areas of the Clutha and Dunedin districts and also areas east of the Rock and Pillar Range.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:06 pm 12-Mar-2009: Severe southwest gales in coastal Otago have now eased. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Strong Wind Warnings lifted for hilltops and exposed coasts of the Clutha and Dunedin districts and areas east of the Rock and Pillar Range.
Flooding
State Highway 90 between Raes Junction (Otago) and McNab (Southland) was closed due to flood waters on the 13th.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Otago
An unseasonal cold snap was experienced in Central Otago and Queenstown-Lakes on the 10th and 11th.
Temperatures plummeted to low single digits.
Very strong cold southerlies were coming up from Antarctica.
Snow fell to 400 m in Central Otago.
High Wind / Gust
Southwesterly gales, some reaching gale force, swept the hilltops and exposed areas of Clutha and Dunedin on the 12th.
Snow / Ice
at
Alexandra
Snow fell on the hills around Alexandra overnight on the 10th.
High Wind / Gust
A massive snow gum tree fell on the cab of a utility vehicle in Tarbert Street in Alexandra at about midday on the 12th. The driver had got out of it just minutes beforehand. Another 20 m tree in Prioneer Park was also dislodged by the strong wind and later had to be felled for safety reasons.
The wind gust that felled the tree was measured at 58 km/hr.
The gum tree blocked Tarbert Street, and traffic had to be diverted.
Another gum tree was blown over in Taylor Place and brought down power lines around midday.
Hail
at
Catlins Heads
Hail showers and driving rain occurred in the Caitlins.
Snow / Ice
at
Dunedin
Icy rain fell in Dunedin on the 11th and sleet was reported on Three Mile Hill.
Dunedin had a temperature of 4 degC on the morning of the 11th.
Some snow fell on the Northern Motorway.
High Wind / Gust
Dunedin recorded gusts of 69 km/hr on the 12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Dunedin Airport
Dunedin Airport recorded gusts of 89 km/hr on the 12th.
Snow / Ice
at
Fruitlands
Snow covered the hillsides in Fruitlands on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Kelso
A Kelso farmer had cut hay swept away and trapped in fences.
High Wind / Gust
at
Oamaru
Oamaru recorded gusts of 50 km/hr on the 12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Outram
Power was cut to homes in parts of Outram and surrounding areas for up to 90 minutes on the 12th.
Flooding
at
Pomahaka
A bridge at Koi Flat was submerged by flood waters.
Flooding
at
Pomahaka River
Several days of heavy rain and melting snow caused the Pomahaka River to flood on the 13th.
A Tapanui district farmer had about 100 ha of his farm under water on the night of the 13th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Port Chalmers
Power was cut in the West Harbour area around Sawyers Bay for three hours on the morning of the 11th, after a large macrocarpa tree brought down two power poles in Blanket Bay at about 11am. The areas affected were Blanket Bay, Mt Cargill, Pigeon Flat, Sawyers Bay and the Waitati Valley area.
State Highway 88 between Dunedin and Port Chalmers was closed to northbound traffic after the power poles were brought down.
The diversion on SH88 disrupted freight operations at the Port of Otago, as some trucks struggled to negotiate the alternative road.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
Queenstown recorded the lowest temperature of 4 degC at 7:30am on the 11th.
On the 11th, at least one flight into Queenstown was diverted to Invercargill and another was cancelled because of low cloud.
Hail
at
Ranfurly
A hail storm was experienced at Ranfurly on the afternoon of the 10th.
Hail stones measured 10 mm (1.0 cm).
Snow / Ice
at
The Remarkables
Snow covered The Remarkables on the 11th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Taiaroa Head
Taiaroa Head recorded gusts of 148 km/hr on the 12th.
Flooding
at
Tapanui
A car went into the flood waters on the Tapanui side of the Pomahaka River on the evening of the 12th and had to be abandoned.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wanaka
Wanaka recorded gusts of 54 km/hr on the 12th.
Southland
High Wind / Gust
at
Gore
Gore recorded gusts of 78 km/hr on the 12th.
References
- Headline: Unseasonal cold snap slows growth.
- www.thenews.co.nz, 12 March 2009.
- Headline: Winter-like chill for southern farmers.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 11 March 2009, 3:08pm.
- Headline: South hit by cold snap.
- www.odt.co.nz, 11 March 2009, 9:22am.
- Headline: Power cut hits Dunedin homes.
- www.odt.co.nz, 11 March 2009, 11:57am.
- Headline: Lucky escape as tree crushes ute.
- www.odt.co.nz, 13 March 2009, 4:59am.
- Headline: Otago coast lashed by 148kmh gales.
- www.odt.co.nz, 13 March 2009, 5:33am.
- Headline: Rain, melted snow, flood Pomahaka River.
- www.odt.co.nz, 14 March 2009, 5:00am.
- Headline: Winter falls early as temperatures drop.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 12 March 2009.
- Headline: Couple lucky to be out of truck when tree squashes cab.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 13 March 2009, 5:00am.
March 2009 Otago Cold Snap
(
2009-03-10
)
A cold snap with snow, hail and high winds was experienced in Otago and parts of Southland. There was also flooding in places following snow melt.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Duration: 4 days - From the 10th to the 13th of March.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 10:58 am 10-Mar-2009: A period of severe gales for eastern parts of the North Island south of Hastings, also about Banks Peninsula. Includes STRONG WIND WARNING for: the eastern North Island from Hastings southwards, also Banks Peninsula.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:53 pm 10-Mar-2009: A period of severe gales for eastern parts of the North Island south of Hastings and also about Banks Peninsula. Includes STRONG WIND WARNING for: the eastern North Island from Hastings southwards, also Banks Peninsula.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:55 am 11-Mar-2009: Severe southwesterly gales about Banks Peninsula until this afternoon, but severe westerlies eased early this morning in the east of the lower North Island. Includes STRONG WIND WARNING for: Banks Peninsula. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Strong Wind Warnings lifted for eastern areas of the North Island from Hastings southwards.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 3:13 pm 11-Mar-2009: Southwest gales about Banks Peninsula now easing. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Strong Wind Warnings lifted for Banks Peninsula.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:08 pm 11-Mar-2009: Severe southwest gales for south Otago and Dunedin during Thursday. Includes STRONG WIND WARNING for: hilltops and exposed coasts of the Clutha and Dunedin areas.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:13 am 12-Mar-2009: Severe southwest gales for areas of Otago during Thursday. Includes STRONG WIND WARNING for: hilltops and exposed areas of the Clutha and Dunedin districts and also areas east of the Rock and Pillar Range.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:06 pm 12-Mar-2009: Severe southwest gales in coastal Otago have now eased. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Strong Wind Warnings lifted for hilltops and exposed coasts of the Clutha and Dunedin districts and areas east of the Rock and Pillar Range.
Flooding
State Highway 90 between Raes Junction (Otago) and McNab (Southland) was closed due to flood waters on the 13th.
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Otago
An unseasonal cold snap was experienced in Central Otago and Queenstown-Lakes on the 10th and 11th.
Temperatures plummeted to low single digits.
Very strong cold southerlies were coming up from Antarctica.
Snow fell to 400 m in Central Otago.
High Wind / Gust
Southwesterly gales, some reaching gale force, swept the hilltops and exposed areas of Clutha and Dunedin on the 12th.
Snow / Ice
at
Alexandra
Snow fell on the hills around Alexandra overnight on the 10th.
High Wind / Gust
A massive snow gum tree fell on the cab of a utility vehicle in Tarbert Street in Alexandra at about midday on the 12th. The driver had got out of it just minutes beforehand. Another 20 m tree in Prioneer Park was also dislodged by the strong wind and later had to be felled for safety reasons.
The wind gust that felled the tree was measured at 58 km/hr.
The gum tree blocked Tarbert Street, and traffic had to be diverted.
Another gum tree was blown over in Taylor Place and brought down power lines around midday.
Hail
at
Catlins Heads
Hail showers and driving rain occurred in the Caitlins.
Snow / Ice
at
Dunedin
Icy rain fell in Dunedin on the 11th and sleet was reported on Three Mile Hill.
Dunedin had a temperature of 4 degC on the morning of the 11th.
Some snow fell on the Northern Motorway.
High Wind / Gust
Dunedin recorded gusts of 69 km/hr on the 12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Dunedin Airport
Dunedin Airport recorded gusts of 89 km/hr on the 12th.
Snow / Ice
at
Fruitlands
Snow covered the hillsides in Fruitlands on the 10th.
Flooding
at
Kelso
A Kelso farmer had cut hay swept away and trapped in fences.
High Wind / Gust
at
Oamaru
Oamaru recorded gusts of 50 km/hr on the 12th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Outram
Power was cut to homes in parts of Outram and surrounding areas for up to 90 minutes on the 12th.
Flooding
at
Pomahaka
A bridge at Koi Flat was submerged by flood waters.
Flooding
at
Pomahaka River
Several days of heavy rain and melting snow caused the Pomahaka River to flood on the 13th.
A Tapanui district farmer had about 100 ha of his farm under water on the night of the 13th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Port Chalmers
Power was cut in the West Harbour area around Sawyers Bay for three hours on the morning of the 11th, after a large macrocarpa tree brought down two power poles in Blanket Bay at about 11am. The areas affected were Blanket Bay, Mt Cargill, Pigeon Flat, Sawyers Bay and the Waitati Valley area.
State Highway 88 between Dunedin and Port Chalmers was closed to northbound traffic after the power poles were brought down.
The diversion on SH88 disrupted freight operations at the Port of Otago, as some trucks struggled to negotiate the alternative road.
Snow / Ice
at
Queenstown
Queenstown recorded the lowest temperature of 4 degC at 7:30am on the 11th.
On the 11th, at least one flight into Queenstown was diverted to Invercargill and another was cancelled because of low cloud.
Hail
at
Ranfurly
A hail storm was experienced at Ranfurly on the afternoon of the 10th.
Hail stones measured 10 mm (1.0 cm).
Snow / Ice
at
The Remarkables
Snow covered The Remarkables on the 11th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Taiaroa Head
Taiaroa Head recorded gusts of 148 km/hr on the 12th.
Flooding
at
Tapanui
A car went into the flood waters on the Tapanui side of the Pomahaka River on the evening of the 12th and had to be abandoned.
High Wind / Gust
at
Wanaka
Wanaka recorded gusts of 54 km/hr on the 12th.
Southland
High Wind / Gust
at
Gore
Gore recorded gusts of 78 km/hr on the 12th.
References
- Headline: Unseasonal cold snap slows growth.
- www.thenews.co.nz, 12 March 2009.
- Headline: Winter-like chill for southern farmers.
- www.newstalkzb.co.nz, 11 March 2009, 3:08pm.
- Headline: South hit by cold snap.
- www.odt.co.nz, 11 March 2009, 9:22am.
- Headline: Power cut hits Dunedin homes.
- www.odt.co.nz, 11 March 2009, 11:57am.
- Headline: Lucky escape as tree crushes ute.
- www.odt.co.nz, 13 March 2009, 4:59am.
- Headline: Otago coast lashed by 148kmh gales.
- www.odt.co.nz, 13 March 2009, 5:33am.
- Headline: Rain, melted snow, flood Pomahaka River.
- www.odt.co.nz, 14 March 2009, 5:00am.
- Headline: Winter falls early as temperatures drop.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 12 March 2009.
- Headline: Couple lucky to be out of truck when tree squashes cab.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Southland Times, 13 March 2009, 5:00am.