NZ Historic Weather Events Catalogue
September 2010 New Zealand Storm
(
2010-09-17
)
10-50 years
Seven days of storms lashed the country. Heavy snow in the South Island caused heavy losses of stock to farmers. Flooding and high winds caused damage to roads and power lines.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 7 days - Seven days of storms lashed the country from the 17th to the 23rd of September 2010.
The storm that was approaching New Zealand was labelled "the biggest in the world" and it covered an area roughly the size of Australia.
Insurance claims for the storm total $49.3 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:16am 16-Sep-2010: A low from the north Tasman Sea is expected to move quickly southeast over the country today, bringing a period of rain to the North Island with heavy falls in the eastern Bay of Plenty ranges. By midnight of the 16th the low should lie to the east of New Zealand, but a disturbed westerly flow is expected to strengthen over the country. A series of fronts embedded in the westerly flow are expected to move over the South Island during the 16th and 17th. These should bring heavy rain to Fiordland and the Southern Alps. Cold conditions associated with these fronts means that significant snowfalls are likely in Fiordland above about 800 metres on the 16th and probably lower on the 17th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:33pm 16-Sep-2010:Periods of heavy rain for Fiordland and Southern Alps on the 16th and 17th, turning to heavy snow in Fiordland and south Westland on the 17th. Brief heavy rain for eastern Bay of Plenty today. Northwesterlies expected to rise to severe gale about Wellington, Wairarapa and the Marlborough Sounds on the morning of the 17th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:06pm 16-Sep-2010: Northwesterlies expected to rise to severe gale about Wellington, Wairarapa and the Marlborough Sounds on the morning of the 17th. Severe gales also expected over the northern half of the North Island from the afternoon of the 17th. A very strong cold westerly flow is expected to spread over New Zealand during the 17th. A series of fronts embedded in this westerly flow are expected to bring heavy rain or showers to western areas of both islands. A heavy snow warning has been issued for Fiordland and South Westland.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:18am 17-Sep-2010: Northwesterlies expected to rise to severe gale about Wellington, Wairarapa and the Marlborough Sounds on the morning of the 17th. Severe gales also expected over the northern half of the North Island from the afternoon of the 17th. A very strong cold westerly flow is expected to spread over New Zealand during the 17th. A series of fronts embedded in this westerly flow are expected to bring heavy rain or showers to western areas of both islands. A heavy snow warning has been issued for Fiordland and South Westland.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 09:28 am Friday 17 September 2010. This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Kapiti-Horowhenua, Wellington and Marlborough. Two fronts are expected to cross the North Island today. The first lies at mid morning from Waitomo to the northwest, and is expected to clear the East Cape area this evening. A second front lying over the upper South Island is expected to intensify this afternoon and may organise into a squall line as it crosses the upper North Island late afternoon/early evening to lie east of East Cape by late evening.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:18am 17-Sep-2010:Northwesterlies expected to be severe gale at times about northern and eastern areas of the North Island, including Wellington and Marlborugh Sounds. Heavy rain likely for the ranges of Westland, Buller, northwest Nelson and central North Island high country. Heavy snowfalls expected for sout Westland and central North Island high country.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 02:06 pm Friday 17 September 2010. This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Kapiti-Horowhenua. Two fronts are crossing the North Island today. At 2pm, the first lies from Kaipara Harbour to central Bay of Plenty, and is expected to clear the East Cape area this evening. A second front lying from west of Taranaki to Kapiti is expected to intensify this afternoon and may organise into a squall line as it crosses the upper North Island late afternoon/early evening, to lie east of East Cape by late evening.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 05:56 pm Friday 17 September 2010. This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne. An active front and line of heavy squally showers and thunderstorms extends from Taumarunui and Waitomo out to the northwest at 6pm. This front and associated thunderstorms are forecast to cross the upper North Island this evening and should have cleared East Cape by midnight. The watch was lifted at 10:44 pm.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:00pm 17-Sep-2010: Westerly gales over northern NZ ease tonight. Gales return to Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough Sounds on the 18th. Brief heavy snow in the central North Island tonight. Heavy rainfall warnings remain for the central North Island and the ranges of northwest Nelson and Buller, but are lifted elsewhere. During Saturday another fast moving front is expected to cross the South Island and move onto the North Island Saturday evening. Northwesterlies should strengthen over central New Zealand as this front approaches.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:39am 18-Sep-2010: Northwest gales return to the Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough. A heavy rain warning remains in force for the central North Island and the ranges of northwest Nelson and Buller.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 11:00am 18-Sep-2010: Northwest gales return to the Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough. A heavy rain warning remains in force for the central North Island and the ranges of northwest Nelson and Buller.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 3:11pm 18-Sep-2010: Northwest gales return to the Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough. A heavy rain warning remains in force for the central North Island and the ranges of northwest Nelson and Buller. Heavy snow warnign added for Sotuhland and South Otago today.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 7:46pm 18-Sep-2010: A front over central New Zealand tonight should move away to the east
during the 19th. Northwest gales over the lower North Island and Marlborough Sounds easing overnight. Heavy rain for the central North Island and the ranges of northwest Nelson and Buller easing.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:09am 19-Sep-2010: A strong showery westerly flow over New Zealand should ease today. A series of fronts is not expected to bring further heavy showers to the central North Island until late this afternoon. Heavy rain in the central North Island easing this afternoon. All other warnings for today lifted.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 10:36am 19-Sep-2010: A strong showery westerly flow over New Zealand should ease today. Heavy rain in the central North Island easing this afternoon. Heavy rain warning for the ranges of Westland on the 20th. Westerly gales becoming severe in parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa on the 20th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 4:24pm 19-Sep-2010: The westerly flow over the North Island is forecast to strengthen again during Monday as a cold front moves quickly north over the South Island. Heavy rain warning for the ranges of Westland on the 20th. Westerly gales becoming severe in parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa on the 20th. Heavy rain in the central North Island hill country has now eased.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:04pm 19-Sep-2010: The westerly flow over the North Island is forecast to strengthen again during Monday as a cold front moves quickly north over the South Island. Heavy rain warning for the west of the South Island on the 20th. Westerly gales becoming severe in parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa on the 20th. Heavy rain in the central North Island hill country has now eased.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:12am 20-Sep-2010: The westerly flow over the North Island is forecast to strengthen today as a series of cold fronts move quickly across southern and central New Zealand. Heavy rain warning for the west of the South Island. Westerly gales becoming severe in parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:37am 20-Sep-2010: The westerly flow over the North Island is forecast to strengthen today as a series of cold fronts move quickly across southern and central New Zealand. Heavy rain warning for the west of the South Island. Westerly gales becoming severe in parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa. Heavy snow warning for the Nelson Lakes.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:24pm 20-Sep-2010: Heavy rain warning for the west of the South Island. Severe west and northwest gales for parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa and Wellington. Heavy snow warning for the Nelson Lakes.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 7:56pm 20-Sep-2010: The severe northwest gales over Wellington and southern Wairarapa have eased and the warning for these areas are lifted. However, severe westerly gales are expected to continue over exposed parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa between Napier and Masterton through to late on the morning of the 21st, before gradually easing. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy rain warning for Ranges of south Westland and northwest ranges of Nelson and Buller ranges. Heavy snow warning slifted for Nelson Lakes.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:14am 21-Sep-2010: Winds have eased over the lower North island and the wind warning for Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa is lifted.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 02:19 am Wednesday 22 September 2010: This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Taihape, Wanganui. A front is expected to move over the North Island this morning.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 04:48 am Wednesday 22 September 2010: This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Bay of Plenty, Taupo. The watch was lifted at 6:00 am.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:19am 22-Sep-2010: Another fast moving front is forecast to race across much of New Zealand overnight on the 22nd and the morning of the 23rd. Severe west to northwest gales expected over northern Wellington, Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay south of Napier. Bitterly cold southwest gales and more significant snow expected for parts of Southland and Clutha overnight.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 5:25pm 22-Sep-2010: Spell of very squally west to northwest gales expected from the outer Marlborough Sounds to Coromandel Peninsula tonight and tomorrow morning. Bitterly cold southwest gales from coastal Southland to Dunedin and significant snow for inland Southland and Clutha.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:35pm 22-Sep-2010: Spell of very squally west to northwest gales expected from the outer Marlborough Sounds to Coromandel Peninsula tonight and tomorrow morning. Bitterly cold southwest gales from coastal Southland to Dunedin and significant snow for inland Southland and Clutha.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:20am 23-Sep-2010: Squally west to northwest gales over central parts of the North Island from Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty down to Taranaki and Hawkes Bay easing by afternoon. Gales over coastal Southland and Otago have eased and snow over inland Southland and Clutha is also easing.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:05pm 23-Sep-2010: WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Strong wind warnings have been lifted for Hawkes Bay, Coromandel Peninsula and Kaimai Range including Western Bay of Plenty to higher parts oaf the central North Island plateau and Mount Taranaki.
Lightning
Over 7000 lightning strikes were detected around New Zealand on the 17th and 18th.
North Island
Multi Hazard
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North Island
In the North Island more than 55,000 homes across Thames Valley, Coromandel, South Waikato, Western Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, Rangtikei, Wanganui, Taranaki and Wairarapa had their power supply cut during the storm due to gale force winds and lightning strikes on the 17th, 18th and 19th. On the 20th all but 200 homes had their electricity restored. Strong gales on the 20th left a further 2000 homes without electricity in North Taranaki, Manawatu and the Wairarapa. More than 13,000 houses lost power overnight of the 21st and 22nd including 1250 in the Auckland region, 5000 in Whangamata and 5000 in the Taranaki and Manawatu regions. Nearly 80,000 Powerco customers were affected overall by weather-related power cuts from Manawatu, Taranaki, Rangitikei and Western Bay of Plenty.
The storm closed several major roads. Highways in Manawatu, Waikato and Taranaki regions were particularly affected by slips and flooding.
The storm contributed to the wettest two weeks in the past decade.
Lightning
The MetService said there was about 2000 lightning strikes in 24 hours on the 17th.
High Wind / Gust
Trees were uprooted across Auckland and the Waikato.
South Island
Multi Hazard
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South Island
Federated Farmers president esimated that farmers were facing losses of more than $50 million following the snow, icy rain and chilling winds. There was about a 25 per cent drop in milk production from dairy farms because of feed problems. It was estimated that 500,000 lambs and 10 per cent of many farmers breeding stock died during the cold snap. Some farmers lost pregnant or lactacting ewes to metabolic illnesses as they ran short of feed just as the animals were most in need of good nutrition. The Agricultural Minister declared a medium-level adverse event in the area affected (Southland and South Otago), triggering government relief measures.
Heavy rains and cold weather slashed grass growth and made many dairy farmers paddocks unaccessible.
Invercargill and Queenstown Airports were both closed.
Snow / Ice
The avalanche risk in the Wakatipu and most of the South Island was upgraded to high on the 23rd.
Auckland
High Wind / Gust
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Auckland
On Volcanic Road, Balmoral, wires were ripped apart when a 13 metre high gum tree was blown on to a power pole at 9:30pm on the 17th. The tree fell across the road and missed a house by metres.
Trees were uprooted and some houses lost their roofs.
Large trees crashed on to the Waikato Expressway 50 km south of Auckland, striking one vehicle.
On the 21st about 1250 houses lost power briefly when trees hit power lines in Puhoi and Dairy Flats.
Trees were toppled and fences were smashed, while branches and other debris littered roads. Roads signs and election hoardings were among casualties to the wind around Rodney.
High Wind / Gust
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Auckland City
A piece of roof came off the former Lion Breweries building in Newmarket and landed on the nearby rail track. Scaffolding fell off and caused serious damage to a three-storey house under construction in suburban Hillsborough.
A overhead sign fell on to the Northwestern Motorway between Newton Road and St Lukes, closing the west-bound lanes on the 17th.
The weather closed a number of roads in Auckland including the southbound Graftron Road onramp, the westbound Wellesley Street onramp, both south and northbound Dominion Road offramps to Mount Roskill and the southbound Ellerslie onramp.
There were gusts of up to 100 km/hr in Auckland on the 22nd.
High winds felled power lines, cutting electricity in Warkworth, Remuera, Mangere and large parts of West Auckland on the 17th.
There were gusts of up to 70 km/hr on the 23rd which brought down a 20 m gum tree on the North Shore. The tree clipped the edge of a house, tearing down the guttering and lead to the evacuation of 120 children from a neighbouring school after concerns about the stability of two other trees.
High Wind / Gust
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Auckland International Airport
At Auckland Airport, wind gusts frequently topped 100 km/hr.
A small part of the roof at Auckland International Airport's domestic terminal was lifted off.
High Wind / Gust
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Clarks Beach
A home was destroyed at Clarks Beach on the night of the 17th after winds of up to 140 km/hr ripped through the area. It was suspected to have been a small tornado.
At the Clarks Beach Holiday Park two 30 m macrocarpa trees were uprooted.
High Wind / Gust
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Grey Lynn
A Grey Lynn resident had her car partly crushed by a huge pine which fell in Shirley Ave.
Maritime / Coastal
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Manukau Harbour
There were 6-7 m swells in the Manukau Harbour on the 19th.
The cargo ship Spirit of Resolution was badly damaged and largely unsteerable when it damaged its rudder during heavy swells on the Manukau Bar after leaving the Port of Onehunga on the 19th.
High Wind / Gust
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Manukau Heads
Wind gusts peaked at 155 km/hr at Manukau Heads.
In the Hauraki Gulf a number of yachts broke their masts in the strong winds.
High Wind / Gust
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Otahuhu
Winds destroyed a carport of an Otahuhu resident. The carport was ripped from the ground, crashed into the neighbours house and took out powerlines.
High Wind / Gust
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Pukekohe
Avocado growers and vegetable growers around Pukekohe sustained wind damage over exposed crops and smashed greenhouses.
Maritime / Coastal
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Waitemata Harbour
On the 19th an 11 m yacht, Sardonyx, was found semi-submerged and washed up on the rocks near the northern end of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The interior was badly damaged and parts of the boat were scattered for hundreds of metres along the rocks.
Waikato
Multi Hazard
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Waikato
Lines companies delt with hundreds of isolated faults on networks, from blown poles fuses to trees falling across lines. Gale force winds caused a large number of power cuts with trees being blown into overhead lines and snapping poles. Lightning strikes damaged transformers and related equipment. Repair crews were hampered by lack of access to some isolated areas due to trees falling across roads.
Worst affected areas for power cuts were Thames, Whitianga, Coromandel, Paeroa, Piako, Tokoroa, Kerepehi and Waihi. On the morning of the 20th power was still not restored to places in Tirua, Arapuni and Putaruru. Many cows were suffering after having missed two or three milkings due to the power outages.
Flooding
There was localised flooding around the region near rivers and lakes.
There was surface flooding of State Highway 1 on the eastern shore on Lake Taupo between Turangi and Taupo.
Landslide
State Highway 41 between Turangi and Kuratau on the the southern shores of Lake Taupo was closed by a slip.
Tornado
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Eureka
On one property 10 macrocarpa trees, up to 20 metres tall, were felled by a tornado on the night of the 17th.
Lightning
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Hamilton
Lightning struck a pole in York Street, Hillcrest, on the morning of the 19th, affecting 214 customers.
High Wind / Gust
An 8 metre tree crashed into the barge piles at the entrance of a River Road house.
A Hillcrest resident had two large trees fall on her Geoffery Place house at 10pm on the 17th.
A large fallen tree blocked Rotokauri Road on the 23rd.
Flooding
On the 20th the Waikato River was 3 metres above normal in Hamilton.
Flooding
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Huntly
On the 20th the Waikato River was 2.5 metres above normal in Huntly.
Heavy Rain
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Matamata
Matamata recorded 16 mm (1.6 cm) of rain in one hour.
High Wind / Gust
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Morrinsville
A Morrinsville farmer had a shed, housing a tractor and firewood, blown over at 9pm on the 18th. The debris in turn damaged the roof of another shed, while fences and gates were also damaged.
Tornado
There were reports of a funnel tornado in Morrinsville around 2am on the 18th.
Flooding
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Ngaruawahia
On the 20th the Waikato River was 2.7 metres above normal in Ngaruawahia.
High Wind / Gust
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Ngatea
A trampoline was blown more than 200 metres into high voltage lines where it caused power cuts to Powerco lines.
Flooding
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Otorohanga
On the 20th the Waipa River was 3.8 metres above normal in Otorohanga.
High Wind / Gust
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Tuakau
A 17 year old girl was admitted to hospital with neck injuries and facial cuts after her car was sandwiched between a truck and a tree, which had blown across the road in Tuakau.
Flooding
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Whatawhata
On the 20th the Waipa River was 6 metres above normal in Whatawhata.
Bay of Plenty
High Wind / Gust
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Bay of Plenty
About 100 homes across Te Puke, Omanu, Matapihi, and Paengaroa were without power on the night of the 19th. Power to 250 properties in those areas was connected in the late afternoon of the 19th.
Damage to orchards in the Western Bay were isolated rather than widespread. The wind damaged the Bay of Plenty's avocado and kiwifruit crops as well as knocking out rows of shelterbelts. Some avocado growers in the Bay of Plenty had crop losses of 30 percent or more.
Multi Hazard
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Paengaroa
A dairy farmer was forced to dump about 13,500 litres of unchilled milk as a result of having no power to his cowshed. Other farmers had to hire generators until power was restored late on the 19th.
Multi Hazard
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Rotorua
The severe weather is suspected to have claimed the life of a 64 year old man. He was fitting a cable on the roof of his Rotorua engineering works on the 17th when he fell to the ground. He may have slipped or been blown off the roof.
High Wind / Gust
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Tauranga
Trees fell on power lines and power poles were broken.
A storage shed on Te Puna Road was damaged after a large section of its roof collapsed.
A tree fell down in Rushton Ave.
The fire crew was the busiest on the 18th when they responded to about 30 call-out including one to a huge pine tree that fell across Tomsett Road in the Kaimai Ranges.
High Wind / Gust
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Te Puke
A Te Puke kiwifruit orchard was pummelled by high winds on the night of the 17th. A large artificial shelter was blown over. The wind was strong enough to uproot 10 heavy wooden poles from the ground.
High Wind / Gust
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Whakamarama
A Plummers Point resident lost four avocado trees in the wind.
High Wind / Gust
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Whangamata
Electricity was cut for most of the day to around 5000 homes in Whangamata on the 21st when a 33,000-volt power line supplying the area faulted due to high winds.
There were 130 km/hr wind gusts in Whangamata on the 21st.
Hawke's Bay
High Wind / Gust
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Hawke's Bay
Powerlines went down in Wairoa and near Hastings.
Taranaki
High Wind / Gust
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Taranaki
Some parts of the region lost power including residents in Motunui, Uruti and Whangamomona over the weekend on the 18th and 19th. The power was cut to some areas of South Taranaki on the 22nd due to high winds, including Oakura, Okato, Omata, Kaponga, Mangatoki, Hawera and the Tangahoe Valley.
Snow / Ice
On the 22nd snow covered the ground from Midhirst to Ngaere.
Hail
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Bell Block
There was hail in places up to a 1 m deep.
Snow / Ice
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Kaponga
A resident near Kaponga recorded 100 mm (10 cm) of snow on the ground on the morning of the 22nd.
High Wind / Gust
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Mount Messenger
A few trees were down near Mount Messenger.
Heavy Rain
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Mount Taranaki
The northern slopes of Mount Taranaki recorded 257 mm (25.7 cm) of rain in seven days.
Snow / Ice
Pembroke Road, which leads to Mount Taranaki, was closed due to heavy snow.
Tornado
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Oakura
A tornado near Oakura on the morning of the 22nd, downed powerlines and trees and ripped the roofing off a double garage.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
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Manawatu-Wanganui
On the 20th, heavy rain falling on saturated ground in the Manawatu and Rangitikei caused surface flooding and slips to roads throughout the region.
Flooding
SH1 north of Bulls was closed because of flooding and SH56 was closed at the intersection with Highway 56 south of Palmerston North due to flooding but was reopened on the 21st.
Main South Road, Peep-O-Day, north of Apiti was closed due to flooding. Finnis Road at Pohangina, Surreydale Road at Hopelands, Te Rehunga North Road at Oringi, Londons Ford Road at Kimbolton, Beaconfield Valley Road at Cheltenham, Hoggs Road at Kuku and Old Hill Road at Wanstead were closed.
Landslide
There were slips on SH1 at Mangaweka and Utiku, SH4 between Wanganui and Kakatahi, and SH3 at Ratana. A number of slips closed SH43 between Stratford and Taumarunui. The Cheltenham to Hunterville section of SH54 was closed due to slips.
There were 19 significant slips in the Ruapehu district which was estimated to cost about $1,000,000 to fix.
A major slip between Mangaweka and Taihape closed SH1 for several hours on the 19th.
A section of SH2 was closed after a truck drove into a 25 metre landslip between Woodville and Dannevirke.
High Wind / Gust
On the afternoon of the 20th strong northwesterly winds cut power to about 300 houses around Kimbolton and Apiti, when trees and debris took out power lines.
The districts ski fields took a hammering from the weather and Turoa's new six-seater chairlift was damaged.
Snow / Ice
There was snow falling on the Central Plateau on the morning of the 22nd, with 4-12 cm accumulating on the Desert Road between 3am and 12am.
Snow fell in areas near Ohakune and Taihape on the 22nd.
High Wind / Gust
at
Dannevirke
A power pole snapped, a tree blew over and reduced SH2 to one lane for a short period, a tin shed was blown over on to a road, parts of a shed roof were blown off and a chimney loosened.
Flooding
at
Feilding
The Makino River burst through a stopbank at Kitchener Park, near Fielding. Flood waters closed Kawakawa Road.
Flooding
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Koitiata
Two houses at Koitiata were self-evacuated due to flooding.
Landslide
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Manawatu Gorge
Slips caused SH3 through the Manawatu Gorge to close overnight on the 20th to the 21st.
Multi Hazard
at
Marton
Several houses in the Rangitikei town of Marton were threatened by flooding and falling trees.
Flooding
SH1 at Calico Line, near Marton, was closed due to severe flooding.
The main street could not cope with all the stormwater, which got into several commercial premises. A house in Pukepapa Road was self-evacuated for the second time in 2 weeks and the bridge club next door was also flooded.
Flooding
at
Scotts Ferry
Scotts Ferry became encircled by flood waters which cut off road access on the 22nd. A nearby farm was under water up to 1 m deep.
Landslide
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Taihape
There were two slips on SH1 near Taihape on the 23rd.
Landslide
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Taumarunui
The only road to the Taumarunui Hospital was blocked for over an hour on the 22nd after a slip covered the road bringing down a large tree.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
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Wellington
Two cars collided head-on in stormy conditions south of Masterton. One person was injured.
Many prop aircraft flights were delayed or cancelled at Wellington Airport.
Flooding
There was flooding in parts of the Wairarapa and Kapiti.
Lightning
A flight was forced to turn back to Wellington after it was struck by lightning.
There were 100 lightning strikes in the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa regions and set fire to a shed and trees. About 3600 Hutt Valley residents lost power after two strikes hit substations in both areas.
Snow / Ice
Rimutaka Hill Road was closed following 2-6 cm of snow accumulating on the hill above 400 m from 3am to 7am on the morning of the 22nd.
High Wind / Gust
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Masterton
A gust blew over a 6.5 tonne trailer after forcing the truck off SH2, north of Masterton on the afternoon of the 20th.
Snow / Ice
at
Mount Bruce
There were snowfalls in the Mt Bruce area on the 22nd.
Tasman-Nelson
Snow / Ice
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Tasman-Nelson
Snow was lying in bush above Marsden Valley on the Barnicoat Range at a height of 650 m at 6am on the 18th. Snow blanketed the Doubles and Fringed Hill above Maitai Valey and there was a couple of sentimetres on the ground at Takaka Hill.
Rainbow skifield recorded more than 70 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
St Arnaud
Heavy snow fell in St Arnaud township on the 20th. Lake Rotoiti School was closed.
West Coast
Heavy Rain
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West Coast
Crop River recorded 225 mm (22.5 cm) of rain in seven days.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
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Canterbury
SH8 between Omarama and Tarras, as well as between Fairlie and Twizel was closed.
Landslide
SH74 Christchurch was closed due to rock falls. The SH77 Glentunnel to Glenroy was closed due to a drop out in the road.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Otago
Due to the large system affecting the country, a front was coming through every 24 hours.
Federated Farmers Otago president said the worst affected farmers could lose 200 to 300 lambs, costing them $30,000 or more.
The night of the 18th was a very cold night with wind-chill dropping the temperature to about -10degC.
Snow / Ice
The Southern Scenic Route in the Catlins, between Owaka and Niagara was closed on the 19th. The Clinton-Mataura highway and Milford Road were closed for a time.
West Otago roads above Heriot and Dunrobin were impassable for most of the 22nd.
The Crown Range Road between Wanaka and Arrow Junction was closed.
High Wind / Gust
Gusts of wind on the night of the 22nd brought down trees and powerlines in Ravensbourne and Mosgiel. There were approximately 1780 households affected by power outages in Corstorphine, Waldronville/Westwood, Kinmont/Saddle Hill/Chain Hill and parts of Otago Peninsula. 33 customers in Owaka, Hillend, Palmerston and Middlemarch areas also lost power. Trees were blown down on Three Mile Hill and Riccarton Road, while a railway crossing failed in Gladfield Road.
The wind on the 21st caused branches to fall on powerlines, cutting power to homes in Brighton and East Taieri for several hours.
Snow / Ice
at
Arthurs Pass
A resident recorded about 20 cm of snow at the Arthurs Pass village.
Snow / Ice
at
Coronet Peak
Coronet Peak recorded 64 cm of snow over the week.
Snow / Ice
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Dunedin
Overnight snow on the 22nd forced the closure of Dunedin's Northern Motorway for 2 hours on the morning of the 23rd.
High Wind / Gust
Wind gusts of up to 75 km/hr buffeted Dunedin on the night of the 22nd.
In the city wind speeds of up to 55 km/hr were recorded on the night of the 21st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Dunedin Airport
At Dunedin Airport gale-force winds of up to 75 km/hr were recorded on the night of the 21st.
At Dunedin Airport gale-force winds of 59 km/hr were recorded on the night of the 21st with gusts of up to 93 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
at
Lawrence
Severe weather and high winds uprooted trees and damaged builings.
Snow / Ice
A 12 year old boy was injured when the car in which he was travelling in crashed in snow and ice in Clarks Flat Road.
High Wind / Gust
at
Nugget Point
Wind gusts of 58 km/hr were recorded in Nugget Point on the night of the 22nd.
High Wind / Gust
at
Oamaru
Wind gusts of 78 km/hr were recorded in Oamaru on the night of the 22nd.
Snow / Ice
at
Outram
George King Memorial Drive at Outram was closed on the morning of the 23rd due to snow and ice.
Snow / Ice
at
Owaka Valley
There were three snowfalls up to 15 cm deep from the 18th to the 23rd which left the ground conditions wet and muddy.
Snow / Ice
at
Oxford
A resident recorded about 5-8 cm of snow at Oxford.
High Wind / Gust
at
Queenstown
Wind gusts of 67 km/hr were recorded in Queenstown on the night of the 22nd.
Snow / Ice
Queenstown schools were closed on the 23rd due to snow.
Queenstown area recorded 30 cm of snow falling on the morning of the 23rd, adding to the 50 cm in the past few days.
Queenstown airport was closed.
High Wind / Gust
at
Swampy Summit
Swampy Summit recorded winds of up to 126 km/hr on the night of the 22nd.
The highest average wind speed recorded at Swampy Summit was 115 km/hr on the night of the 21st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Taiaroa Head
Taiaroa Head recorded winds of up to 137 km/hr on the night of the 22nd.
Taiaroa Head recorded winds of up to 90 km/hr on the night of the 21st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waitahuna
A car accident occurred on SH8 when a poplar fell across the road. No one was injured. Another fallen tree on Waitahuna Gully Road knocked over powerlines.
Snow / Ice
at
Wanaka
Wanaka area recorded 40 cm of snow on the 23rd and 24th.
Southland
Multi Hazard
at
Southland
The six days of blizzards was the worst spring snow storm in history. Snow, rain, wind, hail and sleet battered the coastal belt from Colac Bay in Southland, parts of Central Southland, the Caitlins, Owaka and Clinton.
Snow / Ice
Southland got the worst of the wintry blast. The snow initially hit coastal Southland, leaving the highlands largely untouched.
The snow in Southland was not light and fluffy like in other areas, but had a high moisture content because of its proximity to the coast. The snow was fostered by a very low-level wind from the nothwest that avoided the warming affect of nearby Foveaux Strait. The Fiordland mountains stopped inland areas such as Nightcaps from getting the snow experienced in Invercargill. Cold winds from Antarctica and a deep low to the southeast of Campbell Island helped drag cold air up.
Many dairy farmers were forced to jettison thousands of litres of milk because tankers were unable to reach up to 500 farms due to the snow. The areas affected were Edendale, Winton, Eastern Southland and anything south of that line.
Roads in the South were dangerous, with heavy snow or black ice forming on surfaces from Southland to Milton. Icy and snowy conditions caused a number of cars to slide off roads.
Some schools decided to stay closed on the 20th including Aurora College in Tokanui, Southland Community College and the Southern Institute of Technology.
Snow fell to a depth of 20 cm in Southland.
SH93 from Clinton to Mataura and SH87 from Outram to Middlemarch was closed on the 22nd due to snow. SH97 between Mossburn and Lowther was closed on the 22nd due to snow. SH6 between Kingston and Five Rivers was closed.
The extent of the stock losses were huge with one farmer losing 2000 lambs worth $160,000 and another farmer who collected 700 dead lambs once he was able to access his farm on the 26th.
It was estimated that half the farms in Southland were affected by the one-in-50-year storm.
The Milford Highway was closed on the 24th due to the high avalanche risk on the 42 km stretch between Lake Gunn and Milford Village.
SH1 was closed in Southland due to snow.
Some school were forced to closed on the 23rd due to snow including the Blue Mountain College and Tapanui primary school.
There were high winds between Gore and Waihola.
High Wind / Gust
On the 23rd Southland was still being hit by gale force westerlies and gust up to 85 km/hr.
Snow / Ice
at
Edendale
Snow was about a foot (0.3 m) deep on one Edendale farm.
Multi Hazard
at
Gore
The maximum afternoon temperature in Gore on the 18th of 3.0 degC which was the lowest on record for September.
Snow / Ice
at
Invercargill
A Southland weather expert said that the snowfall could have been the heaviest in Invercargill for 50 years.
The roof of Wren's paint shop, in Yarrow Street, caved in on the 19th under heavy snow. The roof of the Windsor New World supermarket partially collapsed, and the roofs of commercial buildings including the Farmers department store and The Warehouse were sagging.
On the morning of the 18th the $10 million Stadium Southland's roof collapsed sending dozens of tennis players running for their lives. Most of the building would have to be torn down and rebuilt.
Invercargill's supermarkets were closed on the 19th.
Southern Transport lost two large storage sheds at its Otepuni Ave site, the roofs collapsing under the weight of the snow. Thousands of dollars worth of damage was caused.
The snowfall was 10 to 12 cm deep and up to 14 cm deep in some areas.
Heavy snow destroyed a $100,000 glasshouse at Eldon Gardens, with the panes and shards of glass smashing down on to about 2000 young tomato plants.
Flooding
On the night of the 20th, heavy rain combined with melting snow caused surface flooding in Invercargill.
Residents in Farrar Street were stranded on the 20th after overloaded stormwater drains flooded the entrance of the street in knee-deep water. Flooded properties on the corner of Farrar and Regent Streets were hit by waves created by cars trying to get out of the street.
The flood that hit the Invercargill rivers on the 20th had a "10-year return period". But the water levels were no match for the flood protection system. Most people only had problems with local drainage problems.
Multi Hazard
The maximum afternoon temperature in Invercargill on the 18th of 4.1 degC was the lowest on record for September.
Most businesses in Invercargill were closed on the 19th due to severe weather.
Invercargill airport was closed.
High Wind / Gust
at
Longbush
A 47 year old man was in a serious condition in hospital after being hit by a falling tree.
Flooding
at
Waihopai River
Waihopai River recorded 89 mm (8.9 cm) of rain in three days.
Waihopai River had a peak discharge of 61 cumecs on the morning of the 21st.
References
- Headline: Storm wrecks havoc on Bay.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 20 September 2010.
- Headline: More gales to hit after weekend battering.
- www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz, 20th September 2010.
- Headline: Storm brings 130km/h winds and snow.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 17 September 2010 12:35pm.
- Headline: Chaos as big blow roars in.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 18 September 2010 10:50am.
- Headline: Storm leaves mark on nation.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 19 September 2010 5:30am.
- Headline: Road closures as storm impact continues.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 20 September 2010 11:14am.
- Headline: Storm cuts power to North Island homes.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 20 September 2010 5:33pm.
- Headline: Storm misery: Dismal weather sting in tail.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 20 September 2010 7:44am.
- Headline: Weather Watch: No calm before the storm.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 21 September 2010 12:30pm.
- Headline: 12,000 in North Island still without power.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 21 September 2010 3.21pm.
- Headline: Monster storm will rage all week.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 21 September 2010 5:30am.
- Headline: Lambs dying in their thousands as storm bites.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 21 September 2010 6:54pm.
- Headline: Wild weather continues.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 22 September 2010 10:11am.
- Headline: Squalls just the lull before 'furore'.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 22 September 2010 5:30am.
- Headline: More stormy weather to batter NZ.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 22 September 2010 5:58pm.
- Headline: Latest updates: Stormy weather, high winds rock NZ.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 22 September 2010 5:59pm.
- Headline: Blizzards bring call for disaster recognition.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 23 September 2010 5:30am.
- Headline: Southland farmers to get storm relief.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 23 September 2010 5:47pm.
- Headline: Wild weather takes a break for much of NZ.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 23 September 2010 6:29pm.
- Headline: Week of wind hits avocado crop.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 24 September 2010 6:32pm.
- Headline: Front due to hit South Island as northern areas calm.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 24 September 2010 9:27am.
- Headline: Thousands hit by winds, power cuts.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 26 September 2010 6:30am.
- Headline: Wild gust chucks carport like a toy.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 26 September 2010 6:30am.
- Headline: Southland, South Otago farmers to get support.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 26 September 2010 7:58pm.
- Headline: Farms, orchards bear brunt of storm.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 20 September 2010 5:03am.
- Headline: Another front set to bring gales, snow.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 22 September 2010 5:58am.
- Headline: High winds cause power cuts.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 23 September 2010 6:00am.
- Headline: Caution urged as motorway opens.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 23 September 2010 9:14am.
- Headline: Further cold front tipped to hit NZ.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 24 September 2010 6:01am.
- Headline: Chaos on snowy roads.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 27 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Firms unite to bring aid to farmers.
- www.odt.co.nz, Source: Otago Daily Times, 29 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Power outage for thousands.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 18 September 2010 9:50pm.
- Headline: Snow plagues Southland.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 19 September 2010 8:08pm.
- Headline: Southland hardest hit by intense storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 20 September 2010 12:34pm.
- Headline: Southland farmers told to dump milk.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 20 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: More snow forecast for Southland.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 21 September 2010 7:18am.
- Headline: More snow, high winds forecast.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 22 September 2010 10:12am.
- Headline: Gales leave more without power.
- www.stuff.co.nz, 23 September 2010 12:00pm.
- Headline: Roads closed after storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 21 September 2010 2:43pm.
- Headline: More snow on the way.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: NZPA, 20 September 2010 2:41pm.
- Headline: Storm wreaks havoc.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Rodney Times, 21 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Photographer braves 'beast' of a storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 20 September 2010.
- Headline: Call this spring?
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Tornado 'was like a train'.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Three days of storms leave trail of damage.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Dominion Post, 20 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Manawatu Gorge re-opens.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Manawatu Standard, 21 September 2010 9:26am.
- Headline: Snow shuts school, worries farmers.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Marlborough Express, 20 September 2010 1:48pm.
- Headline: Storm brings snow to city.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Nelson Mail, 18 September 2010 12:30pm.
- Headline: St Arnaud snow brings warning.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Nelson Mail, 20 September 2010 11:32am.
- Headline: Southland hardest hit by intense storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 20 September 2010 2:48pm.
- Headline: Heavy snow falls in the south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 23 September 2010 8:45am.
- Headline: City snowfall biggest in 50 years?
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 20 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Heavy snow destroys $100k glasshouse in city.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 20 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Players run as roof falls behind them.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 20 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Southern Transport loses shed, roofs collapse under weight of snow.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 20 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Overwhelmed stormwater drains flood city streets.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 21 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Southland, Clutha on watch for heavy snow: Metservice.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 21 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: City's river levels up.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 22 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Warmer weather to come:scientists.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 22 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Snow closes roads.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 22 September 2010 9:26am.
- Headline: Fresh snow prompts avalanche warning.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 24 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Food for farmers 'token of support'.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 27 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Swollen rivers to be tested.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 20 September 2010 1:09pm.
- Headline: Storm leaves mark on the Waikato.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 20 September 2010 1:44pm.
- Headline: What a hammering.
- www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz, 21 September 2010.
- MetService Email Lists
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)
September 2010 New Zealand Storm
(
2010-09-17
)
10-50 years
Seven days of storms lashed the country. Heavy snow in the South Island caused heavy losses of stock to farmers. Flooding and high winds caused damage to roads and power lines.
New Zealand
Multi Hazard
at
New Zealand
Duration: 7 days - Seven days of storms lashed the country from the 17th to the 23rd of September 2010.
The storm that was approaching New Zealand was labelled "the biggest in the world" and it covered an area roughly the size of Australia.
Insurance claims for the storm total $49.3 million.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:16am 16-Sep-2010: A low from the north Tasman Sea is expected to move quickly southeast over the country today, bringing a period of rain to the North Island with heavy falls in the eastern Bay of Plenty ranges. By midnight of the 16th the low should lie to the east of New Zealand, but a disturbed westerly flow is expected to strengthen over the country. A series of fronts embedded in the westerly flow are expected to move over the South Island during the 16th and 17th. These should bring heavy rain to Fiordland and the Southern Alps. Cold conditions associated with these fronts means that significant snowfalls are likely in Fiordland above about 800 metres on the 16th and probably lower on the 17th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:33pm 16-Sep-2010:Periods of heavy rain for Fiordland and Southern Alps on the 16th and 17th, turning to heavy snow in Fiordland and south Westland on the 17th. Brief heavy rain for eastern Bay of Plenty today. Northwesterlies expected to rise to severe gale about Wellington, Wairarapa and the Marlborough Sounds on the morning of the 17th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:06pm 16-Sep-2010: Northwesterlies expected to rise to severe gale about Wellington, Wairarapa and the Marlborough Sounds on the morning of the 17th. Severe gales also expected over the northern half of the North Island from the afternoon of the 17th. A very strong cold westerly flow is expected to spread over New Zealand during the 17th. A series of fronts embedded in this westerly flow are expected to bring heavy rain or showers to western areas of both islands. A heavy snow warning has been issued for Fiordland and South Westland.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:18am 17-Sep-2010: Northwesterlies expected to rise to severe gale about Wellington, Wairarapa and the Marlborough Sounds on the morning of the 17th. Severe gales also expected over the northern half of the North Island from the afternoon of the 17th. A very strong cold westerly flow is expected to spread over New Zealand during the 17th. A series of fronts embedded in this westerly flow are expected to bring heavy rain or showers to western areas of both islands. A heavy snow warning has been issued for Fiordland and South Westland.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 09:28 am Friday 17 September 2010. This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Kapiti-Horowhenua, Wellington and Marlborough. Two fronts are expected to cross the North Island today. The first lies at mid morning from Waitomo to the northwest, and is expected to clear the East Cape area this evening. A second front lying over the upper South Island is expected to intensify this afternoon and may organise into a squall line as it crosses the upper North Island late afternoon/early evening to lie east of East Cape by late evening.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:18am 17-Sep-2010:Northwesterlies expected to be severe gale at times about northern and eastern areas of the North Island, including Wellington and Marlborugh Sounds. Heavy rain likely for the ranges of Westland, Buller, northwest Nelson and central North Island high country. Heavy snowfalls expected for sout Westland and central North Island high country.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 02:06 pm Friday 17 September 2010. This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne, Taranaki, Wanganui, Manawatu, Kapiti-Horowhenua. Two fronts are crossing the North Island today. At 2pm, the first lies from Kaipara Harbour to central Bay of Plenty, and is expected to clear the East Cape area this evening. A second front lying from west of Taranaki to Kapiti is expected to intensify this afternoon and may organise into a squall line as it crosses the upper North Island late afternoon/early evening, to lie east of East Cape by late evening.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 05:56 pm Friday 17 September 2010. This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Taupo, Gisborne. An active front and line of heavy squally showers and thunderstorms extends from Taumarunui and Waitomo out to the northwest at 6pm. This front and associated thunderstorms are forecast to cross the upper North Island this evening and should have cleared East Cape by midnight. The watch was lifted at 10:44 pm.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:00pm 17-Sep-2010: Westerly gales over northern NZ ease tonight. Gales return to Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington, Marlborough Sounds on the 18th. Brief heavy snow in the central North Island tonight. Heavy rainfall warnings remain for the central North Island and the ranges of northwest Nelson and Buller, but are lifted elsewhere. During Saturday another fast moving front is expected to cross the South Island and move onto the North Island Saturday evening. Northwesterlies should strengthen over central New Zealand as this front approaches.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:39am 18-Sep-2010: Northwest gales return to the Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough. A heavy rain warning remains in force for the central North Island and the ranges of northwest Nelson and Buller.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 11:00am 18-Sep-2010: Northwest gales return to the Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough. A heavy rain warning remains in force for the central North Island and the ranges of northwest Nelson and Buller.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 3:11pm 18-Sep-2010: Northwest gales return to the Hawkes Bay, Wairarapa, Wellington and Marlborough. A heavy rain warning remains in force for the central North Island and the ranges of northwest Nelson and Buller. Heavy snow warnign added for Sotuhland and South Otago today.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 7:46pm 18-Sep-2010: A front over central New Zealand tonight should move away to the east
during the 19th. Northwest gales over the lower North Island and Marlborough Sounds easing overnight. Heavy rain for the central North Island and the ranges of northwest Nelson and Buller easing.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:09am 19-Sep-2010: A strong showery westerly flow over New Zealand should ease today. A series of fronts is not expected to bring further heavy showers to the central North Island until late this afternoon. Heavy rain in the central North Island easing this afternoon. All other warnings for today lifted.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 10:36am 19-Sep-2010: A strong showery westerly flow over New Zealand should ease today. Heavy rain in the central North Island easing this afternoon. Heavy rain warning for the ranges of Westland on the 20th. Westerly gales becoming severe in parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa on the 20th.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 4:24pm 19-Sep-2010: The westerly flow over the North Island is forecast to strengthen again during Monday as a cold front moves quickly north over the South Island. Heavy rain warning for the ranges of Westland on the 20th. Westerly gales becoming severe in parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa on the 20th. Heavy rain in the central North Island hill country has now eased.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:04pm 19-Sep-2010: The westerly flow over the North Island is forecast to strengthen again during Monday as a cold front moves quickly north over the South Island. Heavy rain warning for the west of the South Island on the 20th. Westerly gales becoming severe in parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa on the 20th. Heavy rain in the central North Island hill country has now eased.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:12am 20-Sep-2010: The westerly flow over the North Island is forecast to strengthen today as a series of cold fronts move quickly across southern and central New Zealand. Heavy rain warning for the west of the South Island. Westerly gales becoming severe in parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:37am 20-Sep-2010: The westerly flow over the North Island is forecast to strengthen today as a series of cold fronts move quickly across southern and central New Zealand. Heavy rain warning for the west of the South Island. Westerly gales becoming severe in parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa. Heavy snow warning for the Nelson Lakes.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:24pm 20-Sep-2010: Heavy rain warning for the west of the South Island. Severe west and northwest gales for parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa and Wellington. Heavy snow warning for the Nelson Lakes.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 7:56pm 20-Sep-2010: The severe northwest gales over Wellington and southern Wairarapa have eased and the warning for these areas are lifted. However, severe westerly gales are expected to continue over exposed parts of Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa between Napier and Masterton through to late on the morning of the 21st, before gradually easing. WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Heavy rain warning for Ranges of south Westland and northwest ranges of Nelson and Buller ranges. Heavy snow warning slifted for Nelson Lakes.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:14am 21-Sep-2010: Winds have eased over the lower North island and the wind warning for Hawkes Bay and Wairarapa is lifted.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 02:19 am Wednesday 22 September 2010: This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Taumarunui, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, Taihape, Wanganui. A front is expected to move over the North Island this morning.
MetService SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH issued at 04:48 am Wednesday 22 September 2010: This watch affects people in the following weather forecast districts: Northland, Auckland, Great Barrier Island, Coromandel Peninsula, Waikato, Waitomo, Bay of Plenty, Taupo. The watch was lifted at 6:00 am.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 9:19am 22-Sep-2010: Another fast moving front is forecast to race across much of New Zealand overnight on the 22nd and the morning of the 23rd. Severe west to northwest gales expected over northern Wellington, Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay south of Napier. Bitterly cold southwest gales and more significant snow expected for parts of Southland and Clutha overnight.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 5:25pm 22-Sep-2010: Spell of very squally west to northwest gales expected from the outer Marlborough Sounds to Coromandel Peninsula tonight and tomorrow morning. Bitterly cold southwest gales from coastal Southland to Dunedin and significant snow for inland Southland and Clutha.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:35pm 22-Sep-2010: Spell of very squally west to northwest gales expected from the outer Marlborough Sounds to Coromandel Peninsula tonight and tomorrow morning. Bitterly cold southwest gales from coastal Southland to Dunedin and significant snow for inland Southland and Clutha.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 8:20am 23-Sep-2010: Squally west to northwest gales over central parts of the North Island from Coromandel Peninsula and Bay of Plenty down to Taranaki and Hawkes Bay easing by afternoon. Gales over coastal Southland and Otago have eased and snow over inland Southland and Clutha is also easing.
MetService SEVERE WEATHER WARNING issued at 12:05pm 23-Sep-2010: WARNINGS NO LONGER IN FORCE: Strong wind warnings have been lifted for Hawkes Bay, Coromandel Peninsula and Kaimai Range including Western Bay of Plenty to higher parts oaf the central North Island plateau and Mount Taranaki.
Lightning
Over 7000 lightning strikes were detected around New Zealand on the 17th and 18th.
North Island
Multi Hazard
at
North Island
In the North Island more than 55,000 homes across Thames Valley, Coromandel, South Waikato, Western Bay of Plenty, Manawatu, Rangtikei, Wanganui, Taranaki and Wairarapa had their power supply cut during the storm due to gale force winds and lightning strikes on the 17th, 18th and 19th. On the 20th all but 200 homes had their electricity restored. Strong gales on the 20th left a further 2000 homes without electricity in North Taranaki, Manawatu and the Wairarapa. More than 13,000 houses lost power overnight of the 21st and 22nd including 1250 in the Auckland region, 5000 in Whangamata and 5000 in the Taranaki and Manawatu regions. Nearly 80,000 Powerco customers were affected overall by weather-related power cuts from Manawatu, Taranaki, Rangitikei and Western Bay of Plenty.
The storm closed several major roads. Highways in Manawatu, Waikato and Taranaki regions were particularly affected by slips and flooding.
The storm contributed to the wettest two weeks in the past decade.
Lightning
The MetService said there was about 2000 lightning strikes in 24 hours on the 17th.
High Wind / Gust
Trees were uprooted across Auckland and the Waikato.
South Island
Multi Hazard
at
South Island
Federated Farmers president esimated that farmers were facing losses of more than $50 million following the snow, icy rain and chilling winds. There was about a 25 per cent drop in milk production from dairy farms because of feed problems. It was estimated that 500,000 lambs and 10 per cent of many farmers breeding stock died during the cold snap. Some farmers lost pregnant or lactacting ewes to metabolic illnesses as they ran short of feed just as the animals were most in need of good nutrition. The Agricultural Minister declared a medium-level adverse event in the area affected (Southland and South Otago), triggering government relief measures.
Heavy rains and cold weather slashed grass growth and made many dairy farmers paddocks unaccessible.
Invercargill and Queenstown Airports were both closed.
Snow / Ice
The avalanche risk in the Wakatipu and most of the South Island was upgraded to high on the 23rd.
Auckland
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland
On Volcanic Road, Balmoral, wires were ripped apart when a 13 metre high gum tree was blown on to a power pole at 9:30pm on the 17th. The tree fell across the road and missed a house by metres.
Trees were uprooted and some houses lost their roofs.
Large trees crashed on to the Waikato Expressway 50 km south of Auckland, striking one vehicle.
On the 21st about 1250 houses lost power briefly when trees hit power lines in Puhoi and Dairy Flats.
Trees were toppled and fences were smashed, while branches and other debris littered roads. Roads signs and election hoardings were among casualties to the wind around Rodney.
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland City
A piece of roof came off the former Lion Breweries building in Newmarket and landed on the nearby rail track. Scaffolding fell off and caused serious damage to a three-storey house under construction in suburban Hillsborough.
A overhead sign fell on to the Northwestern Motorway between Newton Road and St Lukes, closing the west-bound lanes on the 17th.
The weather closed a number of roads in Auckland including the southbound Graftron Road onramp, the westbound Wellesley Street onramp, both south and northbound Dominion Road offramps to Mount Roskill and the southbound Ellerslie onramp.
There were gusts of up to 100 km/hr in Auckland on the 22nd.
High winds felled power lines, cutting electricity in Warkworth, Remuera, Mangere and large parts of West Auckland on the 17th.
There were gusts of up to 70 km/hr on the 23rd which brought down a 20 m gum tree on the North Shore. The tree clipped the edge of a house, tearing down the guttering and lead to the evacuation of 120 children from a neighbouring school after concerns about the stability of two other trees.
High Wind / Gust
at
Auckland International Airport
At Auckland Airport, wind gusts frequently topped 100 km/hr.
A small part of the roof at Auckland International Airport's domestic terminal was lifted off.
High Wind / Gust
at
Clarks Beach
A home was destroyed at Clarks Beach on the night of the 17th after winds of up to 140 km/hr ripped through the area. It was suspected to have been a small tornado.
At the Clarks Beach Holiday Park two 30 m macrocarpa trees were uprooted.
High Wind / Gust
at
Grey Lynn
A Grey Lynn resident had her car partly crushed by a huge pine which fell in Shirley Ave.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Manukau Harbour
There were 6-7 m swells in the Manukau Harbour on the 19th.
The cargo ship Spirit of Resolution was badly damaged and largely unsteerable when it damaged its rudder during heavy swells on the Manukau Bar after leaving the Port of Onehunga on the 19th.
High Wind / Gust
at
Manukau Heads
Wind gusts peaked at 155 km/hr at Manukau Heads.
In the Hauraki Gulf a number of yachts broke their masts in the strong winds.
High Wind / Gust
at
Otahuhu
Winds destroyed a carport of an Otahuhu resident. The carport was ripped from the ground, crashed into the neighbours house and took out powerlines.
High Wind / Gust
at
Pukekohe
Avocado growers and vegetable growers around Pukekohe sustained wind damage over exposed crops and smashed greenhouses.
Maritime / Coastal
at
Waitemata Harbour
On the 19th an 11 m yacht, Sardonyx, was found semi-submerged and washed up on the rocks near the northern end of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. The interior was badly damaged and parts of the boat were scattered for hundreds of metres along the rocks.
Waikato
Multi Hazard
at
Waikato
Lines companies delt with hundreds of isolated faults on networks, from blown poles fuses to trees falling across lines. Gale force winds caused a large number of power cuts with trees being blown into overhead lines and snapping poles. Lightning strikes damaged transformers and related equipment. Repair crews were hampered by lack of access to some isolated areas due to trees falling across roads.
Worst affected areas for power cuts were Thames, Whitianga, Coromandel, Paeroa, Piako, Tokoroa, Kerepehi and Waihi. On the morning of the 20th power was still not restored to places in Tirua, Arapuni and Putaruru. Many cows were suffering after having missed two or three milkings due to the power outages.
Flooding
There was localised flooding around the region near rivers and lakes.
There was surface flooding of State Highway 1 on the eastern shore on Lake Taupo between Turangi and Taupo.
Landslide
State Highway 41 between Turangi and Kuratau on the the southern shores of Lake Taupo was closed by a slip.
Tornado
at
Eureka
On one property 10 macrocarpa trees, up to 20 metres tall, were felled by a tornado on the night of the 17th.
Lightning
at
Hamilton
Lightning struck a pole in York Street, Hillcrest, on the morning of the 19th, affecting 214 customers.
High Wind / Gust
An 8 metre tree crashed into the barge piles at the entrance of a River Road house.
A Hillcrest resident had two large trees fall on her Geoffery Place house at 10pm on the 17th.
A large fallen tree blocked Rotokauri Road on the 23rd.
Flooding
On the 20th the Waikato River was 3 metres above normal in Hamilton.
Flooding
at
Huntly
On the 20th the Waikato River was 2.5 metres above normal in Huntly.
Heavy Rain
at
Matamata
Matamata recorded 16 mm (1.6 cm) of rain in one hour.
High Wind / Gust
at
Morrinsville
A Morrinsville farmer had a shed, housing a tractor and firewood, blown over at 9pm on the 18th. The debris in turn damaged the roof of another shed, while fences and gates were also damaged.
Tornado
There were reports of a funnel tornado in Morrinsville around 2am on the 18th.
Flooding
at
Ngaruawahia
On the 20th the Waikato River was 2.7 metres above normal in Ngaruawahia.
High Wind / Gust
at
Ngatea
A trampoline was blown more than 200 metres into high voltage lines where it caused power cuts to Powerco lines.
Flooding
at
Otorohanga
On the 20th the Waipa River was 3.8 metres above normal in Otorohanga.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tuakau
A 17 year old girl was admitted to hospital with neck injuries and facial cuts after her car was sandwiched between a truck and a tree, which had blown across the road in Tuakau.
Flooding
at
Whatawhata
On the 20th the Waipa River was 6 metres above normal in Whatawhata.
Bay of Plenty
High Wind / Gust
at
Bay of Plenty
About 100 homes across Te Puke, Omanu, Matapihi, and Paengaroa were without power on the night of the 19th. Power to 250 properties in those areas was connected in the late afternoon of the 19th.
Damage to orchards in the Western Bay were isolated rather than widespread. The wind damaged the Bay of Plenty's avocado and kiwifruit crops as well as knocking out rows of shelterbelts. Some avocado growers in the Bay of Plenty had crop losses of 30 percent or more.
Multi Hazard
at
Paengaroa
A dairy farmer was forced to dump about 13,500 litres of unchilled milk as a result of having no power to his cowshed. Other farmers had to hire generators until power was restored late on the 19th.
Multi Hazard
at
Rotorua
The severe weather is suspected to have claimed the life of a 64 year old man. He was fitting a cable on the roof of his Rotorua engineering works on the 17th when he fell to the ground. He may have slipped or been blown off the roof.
High Wind / Gust
at
Tauranga
Trees fell on power lines and power poles were broken.
A storage shed on Te Puna Road was damaged after a large section of its roof collapsed.
A tree fell down in Rushton Ave.
The fire crew was the busiest on the 18th when they responded to about 30 call-out including one to a huge pine tree that fell across Tomsett Road in the Kaimai Ranges.
High Wind / Gust
at
Te Puke
A Te Puke kiwifruit orchard was pummelled by high winds on the night of the 17th. A large artificial shelter was blown over. The wind was strong enough to uproot 10 heavy wooden poles from the ground.
High Wind / Gust
at
Whakamarama
A Plummers Point resident lost four avocado trees in the wind.
High Wind / Gust
at
Whangamata
Electricity was cut for most of the day to around 5000 homes in Whangamata on the 21st when a 33,000-volt power line supplying the area faulted due to high winds.
There were 130 km/hr wind gusts in Whangamata on the 21st.
Hawke's Bay
High Wind / Gust
at
Hawke's Bay
Powerlines went down in Wairoa and near Hastings.
Taranaki
High Wind / Gust
at
Taranaki
Some parts of the region lost power including residents in Motunui, Uruti and Whangamomona over the weekend on the 18th and 19th. The power was cut to some areas of South Taranaki on the 22nd due to high winds, including Oakura, Okato, Omata, Kaponga, Mangatoki, Hawera and the Tangahoe Valley.
Snow / Ice
On the 22nd snow covered the ground from Midhirst to Ngaere.
Hail
at
Bell Block
There was hail in places up to a 1 m deep.
Snow / Ice
at
Kaponga
A resident near Kaponga recorded 100 mm (10 cm) of snow on the ground on the morning of the 22nd.
High Wind / Gust
at
Mount Messenger
A few trees were down near Mount Messenger.
Heavy Rain
at
Mount Taranaki
The northern slopes of Mount Taranaki recorded 257 mm (25.7 cm) of rain in seven days.
Snow / Ice
Pembroke Road, which leads to Mount Taranaki, was closed due to heavy snow.
Tornado
at
Oakura
A tornado near Oakura on the morning of the 22nd, downed powerlines and trees and ripped the roofing off a double garage.
Manawatu-Wanganui
Multi Hazard
at
Manawatu-Wanganui
On the 20th, heavy rain falling on saturated ground in the Manawatu and Rangitikei caused surface flooding and slips to roads throughout the region.
Flooding
SH1 north of Bulls was closed because of flooding and SH56 was closed at the intersection with Highway 56 south of Palmerston North due to flooding but was reopened on the 21st.
Main South Road, Peep-O-Day, north of Apiti was closed due to flooding. Finnis Road at Pohangina, Surreydale Road at Hopelands, Te Rehunga North Road at Oringi, Londons Ford Road at Kimbolton, Beaconfield Valley Road at Cheltenham, Hoggs Road at Kuku and Old Hill Road at Wanstead were closed.
Landslide
There were slips on SH1 at Mangaweka and Utiku, SH4 between Wanganui and Kakatahi, and SH3 at Ratana. A number of slips closed SH43 between Stratford and Taumarunui. The Cheltenham to Hunterville section of SH54 was closed due to slips.
There were 19 significant slips in the Ruapehu district which was estimated to cost about $1,000,000 to fix.
A major slip between Mangaweka and Taihape closed SH1 for several hours on the 19th.
A section of SH2 was closed after a truck drove into a 25 metre landslip between Woodville and Dannevirke.
High Wind / Gust
On the afternoon of the 20th strong northwesterly winds cut power to about 300 houses around Kimbolton and Apiti, when trees and debris took out power lines.
The districts ski fields took a hammering from the weather and Turoa's new six-seater chairlift was damaged.
Snow / Ice
There was snow falling on the Central Plateau on the morning of the 22nd, with 4-12 cm accumulating on the Desert Road between 3am and 12am.
Snow fell in areas near Ohakune and Taihape on the 22nd.
High Wind / Gust
at
Dannevirke
A power pole snapped, a tree blew over and reduced SH2 to one lane for a short period, a tin shed was blown over on to a road, parts of a shed roof were blown off and a chimney loosened.
Flooding
at
Feilding
The Makino River burst through a stopbank at Kitchener Park, near Fielding. Flood waters closed Kawakawa Road.
Flooding
at
Koitiata
Two houses at Koitiata were self-evacuated due to flooding.
Landslide
at
Manawatu Gorge
Slips caused SH3 through the Manawatu Gorge to close overnight on the 20th to the 21st.
Multi Hazard
at
Marton
Several houses in the Rangitikei town of Marton were threatened by flooding and falling trees.
Flooding
SH1 at Calico Line, near Marton, was closed due to severe flooding.
The main street could not cope with all the stormwater, which got into several commercial premises. A house in Pukepapa Road was self-evacuated for the second time in 2 weeks and the bridge club next door was also flooded.
Flooding
at
Scotts Ferry
Scotts Ferry became encircled by flood waters which cut off road access on the 22nd. A nearby farm was under water up to 1 m deep.
Landslide
at
Taihape
There were two slips on SH1 near Taihape on the 23rd.
Landslide
at
Taumarunui
The only road to the Taumarunui Hospital was blocked for over an hour on the 22nd after a slip covered the road bringing down a large tree.
Wellington
Multi Hazard
at
Wellington
Two cars collided head-on in stormy conditions south of Masterton. One person was injured.
Many prop aircraft flights were delayed or cancelled at Wellington Airport.
Flooding
There was flooding in parts of the Wairarapa and Kapiti.
Lightning
A flight was forced to turn back to Wellington after it was struck by lightning.
There were 100 lightning strikes in the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa regions and set fire to a shed and trees. About 3600 Hutt Valley residents lost power after two strikes hit substations in both areas.
Snow / Ice
Rimutaka Hill Road was closed following 2-6 cm of snow accumulating on the hill above 400 m from 3am to 7am on the morning of the 22nd.
High Wind / Gust
at
Masterton
A gust blew over a 6.5 tonne trailer after forcing the truck off SH2, north of Masterton on the afternoon of the 20th.
Snow / Ice
at
Mount Bruce
There were snowfalls in the Mt Bruce area on the 22nd.
Tasman-Nelson
Snow / Ice
at
Tasman-Nelson
Snow was lying in bush above Marsden Valley on the Barnicoat Range at a height of 650 m at 6am on the 18th. Snow blanketed the Doubles and Fringed Hill above Maitai Valey and there was a couple of sentimetres on the ground at Takaka Hill.
Rainbow skifield recorded more than 70 cm of snow.
Snow / Ice
at
St Arnaud
Heavy snow fell in St Arnaud township on the 20th. Lake Rotoiti School was closed.
West Coast
Heavy Rain
at
West Coast
Crop River recorded 225 mm (22.5 cm) of rain in seven days.
Canterbury
Snow / Ice
at
Canterbury
SH8 between Omarama and Tarras, as well as between Fairlie and Twizel was closed.
Landslide
SH74 Christchurch was closed due to rock falls. The SH77 Glentunnel to Glenroy was closed due to a drop out in the road.
Otago
Multi Hazard
at
Otago
Due to the large system affecting the country, a front was coming through every 24 hours.
Federated Farmers Otago president said the worst affected farmers could lose 200 to 300 lambs, costing them $30,000 or more.
The night of the 18th was a very cold night with wind-chill dropping the temperature to about -10degC.
Snow / Ice
The Southern Scenic Route in the Catlins, between Owaka and Niagara was closed on the 19th. The Clinton-Mataura highway and Milford Road were closed for a time.
West Otago roads above Heriot and Dunrobin were impassable for most of the 22nd.
The Crown Range Road between Wanaka and Arrow Junction was closed.
High Wind / Gust
Gusts of wind on the night of the 22nd brought down trees and powerlines in Ravensbourne and Mosgiel. There were approximately 1780 households affected by power outages in Corstorphine, Waldronville/Westwood, Kinmont/Saddle Hill/Chain Hill and parts of Otago Peninsula. 33 customers in Owaka, Hillend, Palmerston and Middlemarch areas also lost power. Trees were blown down on Three Mile Hill and Riccarton Road, while a railway crossing failed in Gladfield Road.
The wind on the 21st caused branches to fall on powerlines, cutting power to homes in Brighton and East Taieri for several hours.
Snow / Ice
at
Arthurs Pass
A resident recorded about 20 cm of snow at the Arthurs Pass village.
Snow / Ice
at
Coronet Peak
Coronet Peak recorded 64 cm of snow over the week.
Snow / Ice
at
Dunedin
Overnight snow on the 22nd forced the closure of Dunedin's Northern Motorway for 2 hours on the morning of the 23rd.
High Wind / Gust
Wind gusts of up to 75 km/hr buffeted Dunedin on the night of the 22nd.
In the city wind speeds of up to 55 km/hr were recorded on the night of the 21st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Dunedin Airport
At Dunedin Airport gale-force winds of up to 75 km/hr were recorded on the night of the 21st.
At Dunedin Airport gale-force winds of 59 km/hr were recorded on the night of the 21st with gusts of up to 93 km/hr.
High Wind / Gust
at
Lawrence
Severe weather and high winds uprooted trees and damaged builings.
Snow / Ice
A 12 year old boy was injured when the car in which he was travelling in crashed in snow and ice in Clarks Flat Road.
High Wind / Gust
at
Nugget Point
Wind gusts of 58 km/hr were recorded in Nugget Point on the night of the 22nd.
High Wind / Gust
at
Oamaru
Wind gusts of 78 km/hr were recorded in Oamaru on the night of the 22nd.
Snow / Ice
at
Outram
George King Memorial Drive at Outram was closed on the morning of the 23rd due to snow and ice.
Snow / Ice
at
Owaka Valley
There were three snowfalls up to 15 cm deep from the 18th to the 23rd which left the ground conditions wet and muddy.
Snow / Ice
at
Oxford
A resident recorded about 5-8 cm of snow at Oxford.
High Wind / Gust
at
Queenstown
Wind gusts of 67 km/hr were recorded in Queenstown on the night of the 22nd.
Snow / Ice
Queenstown schools were closed on the 23rd due to snow.
Queenstown area recorded 30 cm of snow falling on the morning of the 23rd, adding to the 50 cm in the past few days.
Queenstown airport was closed.
High Wind / Gust
at
Swampy Summit
Swampy Summit recorded winds of up to 126 km/hr on the night of the 22nd.
The highest average wind speed recorded at Swampy Summit was 115 km/hr on the night of the 21st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Taiaroa Head
Taiaroa Head recorded winds of up to 137 km/hr on the night of the 22nd.
Taiaroa Head recorded winds of up to 90 km/hr on the night of the 21st.
High Wind / Gust
at
Waitahuna
A car accident occurred on SH8 when a poplar fell across the road. No one was injured. Another fallen tree on Waitahuna Gully Road knocked over powerlines.
Snow / Ice
at
Wanaka
Wanaka area recorded 40 cm of snow on the 23rd and 24th.
Southland
Multi Hazard
at
Southland
The six days of blizzards was the worst spring snow storm in history. Snow, rain, wind, hail and sleet battered the coastal belt from Colac Bay in Southland, parts of Central Southland, the Caitlins, Owaka and Clinton.
Snow / Ice
Southland got the worst of the wintry blast. The snow initially hit coastal Southland, leaving the highlands largely untouched.
The snow in Southland was not light and fluffy like in other areas, but had a high moisture content because of its proximity to the coast. The snow was fostered by a very low-level wind from the nothwest that avoided the warming affect of nearby Foveaux Strait. The Fiordland mountains stopped inland areas such as Nightcaps from getting the snow experienced in Invercargill. Cold winds from Antarctica and a deep low to the southeast of Campbell Island helped drag cold air up.
Many dairy farmers were forced to jettison thousands of litres of milk because tankers were unable to reach up to 500 farms due to the snow. The areas affected were Edendale, Winton, Eastern Southland and anything south of that line.
Roads in the South were dangerous, with heavy snow or black ice forming on surfaces from Southland to Milton. Icy and snowy conditions caused a number of cars to slide off roads.
Some schools decided to stay closed on the 20th including Aurora College in Tokanui, Southland Community College and the Southern Institute of Technology.
Snow fell to a depth of 20 cm in Southland.
SH93 from Clinton to Mataura and SH87 from Outram to Middlemarch was closed on the 22nd due to snow. SH97 between Mossburn and Lowther was closed on the 22nd due to snow. SH6 between Kingston and Five Rivers was closed.
The extent of the stock losses were huge with one farmer losing 2000 lambs worth $160,000 and another farmer who collected 700 dead lambs once he was able to access his farm on the 26th.
It was estimated that half the farms in Southland were affected by the one-in-50-year storm.
The Milford Highway was closed on the 24th due to the high avalanche risk on the 42 km stretch between Lake Gunn and Milford Village.
SH1 was closed in Southland due to snow.
Some school were forced to closed on the 23rd due to snow including the Blue Mountain College and Tapanui primary school.
There were high winds between Gore and Waihola.
High Wind / Gust
On the 23rd Southland was still being hit by gale force westerlies and gust up to 85 km/hr.
Snow / Ice
at
Edendale
Snow was about a foot (0.3 m) deep on one Edendale farm.
Multi Hazard
at
Gore
The maximum afternoon temperature in Gore on the 18th of 3.0 degC which was the lowest on record for September.
Snow / Ice
at
Invercargill
A Southland weather expert said that the snowfall could have been the heaviest in Invercargill for 50 years.
The roof of Wren's paint shop, in Yarrow Street, caved in on the 19th under heavy snow. The roof of the Windsor New World supermarket partially collapsed, and the roofs of commercial buildings including the Farmers department store and The Warehouse were sagging.
On the morning of the 18th the $10 million Stadium Southland's roof collapsed sending dozens of tennis players running for their lives. Most of the building would have to be torn down and rebuilt.
Invercargill's supermarkets were closed on the 19th.
Southern Transport lost two large storage sheds at its Otepuni Ave site, the roofs collapsing under the weight of the snow. Thousands of dollars worth of damage was caused.
The snowfall was 10 to 12 cm deep and up to 14 cm deep in some areas.
Heavy snow destroyed a $100,000 glasshouse at Eldon Gardens, with the panes and shards of glass smashing down on to about 2000 young tomato plants.
Flooding
On the night of the 20th, heavy rain combined with melting snow caused surface flooding in Invercargill.
Residents in Farrar Street were stranded on the 20th after overloaded stormwater drains flooded the entrance of the street in knee-deep water. Flooded properties on the corner of Farrar and Regent Streets were hit by waves created by cars trying to get out of the street.
The flood that hit the Invercargill rivers on the 20th had a "10-year return period". But the water levels were no match for the flood protection system. Most people only had problems with local drainage problems.
Multi Hazard
The maximum afternoon temperature in Invercargill on the 18th of 4.1 degC was the lowest on record for September.
Most businesses in Invercargill were closed on the 19th due to severe weather.
Invercargill airport was closed.
High Wind / Gust
at
Longbush
A 47 year old man was in a serious condition in hospital after being hit by a falling tree.
Flooding
at
Waihopai River
Waihopai River recorded 89 mm (8.9 cm) of rain in three days.
Waihopai River had a peak discharge of 61 cumecs on the morning of the 21st.
References
- Headline: Storm wrecks havoc on Bay.
- www.bayofplentytimes.co.nz, 20 September 2010.
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- www.hawkesbaytoday.co.nz, 20th September 2010.
- Headline: Storm brings 130km/h winds and snow.
- www.nzherald.co.nz, 17 September 2010 12:35pm.
- Headline: Chaos as big blow roars in.
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- Headline: More snow forecast for Southland.
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- Headline: More snow, high winds forecast.
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- Headline: Gales leave more without power.
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- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Manawatu Standard, 21 September 2010 2:43pm.
- Headline: More snow on the way.
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- Headline: Call this spring?
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- Headline: Tornado 'was like a train'.
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- Headline: Snow shuts school, worries farmers.
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- Headline: Storm brings snow to city.
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- Headline: St Arnaud snow brings warning.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Nelson Mail, 20 September 2010 11:32am.
- Headline: Southland hardest hit by intense storm.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 20 September 2010 2:48pm.
- Headline: Heavy snow falls in the south.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Press, 23 September 2010 8:45am.
- Headline: City snowfall biggest in 50 years?
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 20 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Heavy snow destroys $100k glasshouse in city.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 20 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Players run as roof falls behind them.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 20 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Southern Transport loses shed, roofs collapse under weight of snow.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 20 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Overwhelmed stormwater drains flood city streets.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 21 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Southland, Clutha on watch for heavy snow: Metservice.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 21 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: City's river levels up.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 22 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Warmer weather to come:scientists.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 22 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Snow closes roads.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 22 September 2010 9:26am.
- Headline: Fresh snow prompts avalanche warning.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 24 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Food for farmers 'token of support'.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: The Southland Times, 27 September 2010 5:00am.
- Headline: Swollen rivers to be tested.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 20 September 2010 1:09pm.
- Headline: Storm leaves mark on the Waikato.
- www.stuff.co.nz, Source: Waikato Times, 20 September 2010 1:44pm.
- Headline: What a hammering.
- www.wanganuichronicle.co.nz, 21 September 2010.
- MetService Email Lists
- Insurance Council of New Zealand (www.icnz.org.nz/current/weather)