NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
November 1967 Canterbury and Otago Snowfall ( 1967-11-16 )
Heavy snow in Canterbury and Otago resulted in severe stock losses. Worst hit was the MacKenzie district.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
Duration: 2 days - Exceptionally heavy snowfall on the 16th and 17th in the Mackenzie country and surrounding areas of inland Canterbury and North Otago.
The snow fall was the result of a slow moving low pressure system located in the Tasman Sea causing a cold southwesterly airflow over New Zealand.
The snow fall was the worst in Mackenzie County to this time.
Between 60,000 and 70,000 sheep and lambs were killed.
Regarded as the most severe spring snowfall on record and the worst Canterbury snowfall since 1945.
Electric power and telephone lines were broken in many places. There were 405 poles damaged causing extensive disruption of communication and power supply.
30 hay-barns and many other buildings collapsed under the weight of the snowfall.
There was extensive damage to glasshouses.
The Mackenzie district recorded between 60 and 90cm of snow.
There was extensive disruption to transport due to blocked roads.
Snow falls with depths of more than 50 cm was experienced at homesteads between Rakaia River and Lindis Pass.
Mackenzie Basin had snow to over one metre.
The Canterbury plains recorded snow fall to a depth of up to 60cm.
The snow fall killed thousands of ewes, lambs and calves.
Considerable damage was done to crops and trees. Crops were flattened by the weight of the snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Darfield
Darfield recorded snow fall to a depth of 10cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Sheffield
Sheffield recorded snow fall to a depth of 30cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Oxford
Oxford recorded snow fall to a depth of up to 5cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Methven
Methven recorded snow fall to a depth of 25cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt recorded snow fall to a depth of over 100cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Geraldine
Geraldine recorded snow fall to a depth of 11.5cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Mt Peel
Mt Peel recorded snow fall to a depth of 27.5cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Arundel
Arundel recorded snow fall to a depth of 40cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia recorded snow fall to a depth of 90cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Farlie
Farlie recorded snow fall to a depth of 50cm.
Fairlie was completely isolated.
Snow / Ice
at
The Hermitage
The Hermitage recorded snow fall to a depth of 100cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo recorded snow fall to a depth of 67cm.
Flooding
at
Waiau-uha River
Waiau-uha River had a discharge of 3950 cusecs (112 cumecs) at Maling's Pass on the 15th with a catchment area of 28.8 sq miles (74.6km^2) and a gauge height of 7.01ft (2.14m).
Waiau-uha River had a discharge of 45900 cusecs (1300 cumecs) at Leslie Hills on the 16th with a catchment area of 791 sq miles (2049km^2) and a gauge height of 14.58ft (4.44m).
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Otago
Duration: 2 days - Extreme heavy snowfall over Otago hill and high country on the 16th and 17th.
Crops were flattened.
Severe stock losses due to the snow fall. Thousands of ewes, lambs and calves were killed.
There were disruptions to transport and communications as roads were blocked, power and telephone lines were broken.
Many buildings were damaged or wrecked by the weight of the snow.
References
- Heddrikx, Jordy. (2006). Preliminary analysis of the 12 June 2006 Canterbury snow storm. NIWA..
- Hessell, J.W.D, Holloway, R.H.F, Knowles, D.G., Roberts, J.L. Scientific, Economic and Social Reviews of Natural Hazards in New Zealand, New Zealand National Commission For UNESCO, Wellington, 1984
- Hydrology Annual, No. 15, 1967, Part 1, A.R. Shearer, 1970, Government Printer, Wellington, Water and Soil Division, New Zealand
- Major weather events in New Zealand, SNOWSTORMS to 14th June 2006.
- Meteorological Observations for 1967, Stations in New Zealand and Outlying Islands, Including the Cook Group. New Zealand Meteorological Service.
- Neale, A.A. and Thompson, G.H. (1977). Meteorological conditions accompanying heavy snowfalls in southern New Zealand.
- NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL YEARBOOK, 1968, 73rd Issue, Department of Statistics, Wellington, A.R.Shearer, Government Printer
- New Zealand's Nature Hertiage, Hamlyn House, Auckland, Volume 6, Great Storms
- Headline: Blizzards likely to ease today.
- The New Zealand Herald, 24 June 2006.
November 1967 Canterbury and Otago Snowfall ( 1967-11-16 )
Heavy snow in Canterbury and Otago resulted in severe stock losses. Worst hit was the MacKenzie district.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
Duration: 2 days - Exceptionally heavy snowfall on the 16th and 17th in the Mackenzie country and surrounding areas of inland Canterbury and North Otago.
The snow fall was the result of a slow moving low pressure system located in the Tasman Sea causing a cold southwesterly airflow over New Zealand.
The snow fall was the worst in Mackenzie County to this time.
Between 60,000 and 70,000 sheep and lambs were killed.
Regarded as the most severe spring snowfall on record and the worst Canterbury snowfall since 1945.
Electric power and telephone lines were broken in many places. There were 405 poles damaged causing extensive disruption of communication and power supply.
30 hay-barns and many other buildings collapsed under the weight of the snowfall.
There was extensive damage to glasshouses.
The Mackenzie district recorded between 60 and 90cm of snow.
There was extensive disruption to transport due to blocked roads.
Snow falls with depths of more than 50 cm was experienced at homesteads between Rakaia River and Lindis Pass.
Mackenzie Basin had snow to over one metre.
The Canterbury plains recorded snow fall to a depth of up to 60cm.
The snow fall killed thousands of ewes, lambs and calves.
Considerable damage was done to crops and trees. Crops were flattened by the weight of the snow.
Snow / Ice
at
Darfield
Darfield recorded snow fall to a depth of 10cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Sheffield
Sheffield recorded snow fall to a depth of 30cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Oxford
Oxford recorded snow fall to a depth of up to 5cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Methven
Methven recorded snow fall to a depth of 25cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Mt Hutt
Mt Hutt recorded snow fall to a depth of over 100cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Geraldine
Geraldine recorded snow fall to a depth of 11.5cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Mt Peel
Mt Peel recorded snow fall to a depth of 27.5cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Arundel
Arundel recorded snow fall to a depth of 40cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia recorded snow fall to a depth of 90cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Farlie
Farlie recorded snow fall to a depth of 50cm.
Fairlie was completely isolated.
Snow / Ice
at
The Hermitage
The Hermitage recorded snow fall to a depth of 100cm.
Snow / Ice
at
Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo recorded snow fall to a depth of 67cm.
Flooding
at
Waiau-uha River
Waiau-uha River had a discharge of 3950 cusecs (112 cumecs) at Maling's Pass on the 15th with a catchment area of 28.8 sq miles (74.6km^2) and a gauge height of 7.01ft (2.14m).
Waiau-uha River had a discharge of 45900 cusecs (1300 cumecs) at Leslie Hills on the 16th with a catchment area of 791 sq miles (2049km^2) and a gauge height of 14.58ft (4.44m).
Otago
Snow / Ice
at
Otago
Duration: 2 days - Extreme heavy snowfall over Otago hill and high country on the 16th and 17th.
Crops were flattened.
Severe stock losses due to the snow fall. Thousands of ewes, lambs and calves were killed.
There were disruptions to transport and communications as roads were blocked, power and telephone lines were broken.
Many buildings were damaged or wrecked by the weight of the snow.
References
- Heddrikx, Jordy. (2006). Preliminary analysis of the 12 June 2006 Canterbury snow storm. NIWA..
- Hessell, J.W.D, Holloway, R.H.F, Knowles, D.G., Roberts, J.L. Scientific, Economic and Social Reviews of Natural Hazards in New Zealand, New Zealand National Commission For UNESCO, Wellington, 1984
- Hydrology Annual, No. 15, 1967, Part 1, A.R. Shearer, 1970, Government Printer, Wellington, Water and Soil Division, New Zealand
- Major weather events in New Zealand, SNOWSTORMS to 14th June 2006.
- Meteorological Observations for 1967, Stations in New Zealand and Outlying Islands, Including the Cook Group. New Zealand Meteorological Service.
- Neale, A.A. and Thompson, G.H. (1977). Meteorological conditions accompanying heavy snowfalls in southern New Zealand.
- NEW ZEALAND OFFICIAL YEARBOOK, 1968, 73rd Issue, Department of Statistics, Wellington, A.R.Shearer, Government Printer
- New Zealand's Nature Hertiage, Hamlyn House, Auckland, Volume 6, Great Storms
- Headline: Blizzards likely to ease today.
- The New Zealand Herald, 24 June 2006.